What are Cataracts?
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The lens focuses the light that enters your eye to help provide clear vision. A cataract can be compared to looking through a window that is frosted or yellowed.>
How are Cataracts Treated?
The process involves a thorough preoperative evaluation, testing, and consultation with your surgeon. The outpatient surgical procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia. A small incision is made and the cloudy cataract lens is removed by ultrasound. The focusing power of the natural lens is restored by replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. Routine post-op appointments with your surgeon or referring optometrist are necessary. Patients typically return to their normal activities one or two days after surgery.
Should I have Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is an elective surgery. You should consider surgery if you are not happy with the quality of your vision after correction with glasses or contacts AND your surgeon determines that cataracts are a cause of your vision problem.
Cataract Surgery and Vision Correction
Different types of lntraocular Lens (IOLs) are available. What is the best option for me?
After a thorough pre-op evaluation and testing, your surgeon will discuss your options based on the results of your exam. Many patients will have the option to upgrade to our refractive cataract surgery packages. With advances in IOL technology and surgical techniques, these exciting options can provide excellent vision, with less dependence on glasses or contacts.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an irregular shape of the cornea, the front surface of the eye. This condition causes blurred vision and is correctable with glasses or contacts. Astigmatism can also be corrected at the time of cataract surgery with customized toric IOLs.
IOL Options
Presbyopia-Correcting Lens
A presbyopia-correcting IOL provides patients both distance and near vision, allowing the most eyeglass independence of all IOLs. This IOL can also correct astigmatism. Your surgeon may offer this option following pre-operative testing, as not all patients are good candidates for this technology. Because of the lens design, some patients may experience rings or halos around lights at night. The presbyopia-correcting IOL is not covered by Medicare or insurance plans.
Toric Lens
For patients with astigmatism, the toric IOL is a great option to help decrease the need to wear glasses or contacts for distance vision. The toric IOL is not covered by Medicare or insurance plans.
Basic Lens
The basic lens is a monofocal IOL. This is a single focus lens, which means it can focus your eye at a single distance, usually far. After surgery, glasses are typically required for both distance and near focus, though some patients may only require reading glasses. This IOL does not correct astigmatism. The monofocal IOL is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.
Prior LASIK, PRK or RK Surgery
All cataract surgery patients who have previously had refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK or RK) are more likely to require glasses after cataract surgery. The majority of our patients with a past history of refractive surgery do well and are happy with the results of their surgery. However, because the shape of the cornea has been surgically altered, the ability to predict the IOL power is compromised.
Details of the Procedure
We perform surgery at the Copper Ridge Surgery Center in Traverse City and at MyMichigan Medical Center in Sault Ste. Marie.
The surgery is usually performed as an outpatient with a topical anesthetic. The patient’s vital signs are monitored by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist and IV sedation is provided.
You will receive your surgery arrival time the afternoon prior to surgery (for Monday surgeries, you will get your arrival time Friday afternoon). An IV will be started and a gel-like solution placed on the eye to dilate the pupil and numb the eye.
In the operating room, you will be lying on your back under the light of the microscope. You will be comfortable. It is important that you lie still. The surgery typically takes less than thirty minutes. Then you will be in the recovery area for 30 minutes after which you will be discharged home.
The day of surgery, your eye will feel scratchy and your vision will be blurry. The pupil will remain dilated all day. Some patients may be sleepy or groggy from the anesthesia. A protective plastic shield is worn over the eye the first night after the surgery.
Patients are required to have a driver the day of surgery. The driver must check in with the patient upon arrival and stay at the facility until the patient is discharged. Patients are required to have a driver the day after surgery for their post-op appointment.
Post-op Recovery and Appointment Schedule
Most patients are able to return to their normal activities 1-2 days after surgery. Resuming sports, exercise classes and other activities is usually not a problem; please ask your surgeon for details.
A follow-up appointment is scheduled for the next day (sometimes later the same day). Most patients will be seen by their referring optometrist or surgeon 1 week after surgery. Healing is usually complete in 4 weeks and new glasses can be prescribed at that time.
Eye Drops
Most patients require no prescription eye drops after surgery. Eye drops are, however, often used in patients with diabetes, glaucoma, and other ocular conditions. Your surgeon will recommend a drop regimen that is tailored to you. You will be given detailed instructions on how to use the drops prescribed.
Timing of Surgery
Cataract surgery is performed on one eye at a time. If both eyes require surgery, they are typically scheduled 2 weeks apart. This may depend on the patient’s and surgeon’s schedules.
Complications of Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery has a very high success rate, but all surgical procedures can have complications. Infection is the most serious complication and can result in severe loss of vision. However, post-op infections are rare. Bleeding, intra-operative IOL problems, post-op swelling and inflammation are other possible complications. More detailed information is provided in the surgical consent form.