A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. The lens inside our eye is responsible for focusing light on the back on the eye so that we can see things clearly. As the natural lens becomes cloudy, it diminishes the passage of light to the back of the eye. The light that does enter becomes scattered and blurred, often leaving you feeling as though you are looking through a dusty or foggy window. Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are gradual.
Cataract Causes
Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. It is essentially an unavoidable part of life like wrinkles or grey hair. This process usually starts in the 50s but does not become noticeable until years later, requiring cataract surgery.
Other factors that may play a role in developing cataracts includes:
Diabetes
Steroid use
Trauma
Genetic
UV light exposure
Because everyone eventually develops cataracts, it is the most commonly performed surgery in America, over 3 million cataract surgeries are performed every year.
Cataract Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of cataracts:
Blurry or cloudy vision
Sensitivity to light and glare
Difficulty seeing at night
Seeing “halos” around lights
Double vision in one eye
Frequent changes in eyeglass/ contact lens prescription
Fading or yellowing of colors
Cataract Treatment Options
In the early stages of cataracts, surgery is not typically required but can be safely observed, sometimes with an update in glasses or contact lens prescription. Over time, as the cataract continues to worsen, surgery will become necessary.
During cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye is removed. In its place a clear intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted. This elegant procedure can be successfully done in less than ten minutes as an outpatient procedure.
At Westwood Eye, we believe in offering our patients the most advanced technology and customized treatment options available. With advanced intraocular lenses, laser cataract surgery, and astigmatism correction, we will not only restore your vision and lifestyle, but also greatly reduce your need for glasses. Our very happy patients rave about their vision after surgery and wish they had seen us sooner.
If you’re concerned you may be affected, we recommend scheduling an evaluation with our cataract specialists. If cataract surgery is indeed recommended, your surgeons will discuss your visual goals following the procedure.
Dropless Cataract Surgery
Dropless cataract surgery is performed in a similar manner as as standard cataract surgery with an additional step. Normally after cataract surgery, patients are required to use multiple eye drops many times a day for a month. However, we want to make the recovery process as safe and convenient for our patients by decreasing their need for these expensive drops.
We do this by administering a combination of medications into the eye at the end of surgery. These medications are the same as the necessary drops after surgery. It is very easy to forget to apply multiple different eye drops a day after surgery, and thus by having the medicines already inside the eye, dropless cataract surgery decreases the risk of infection and inflammation.
Do Every Ophthalmologist Offer Dropless Cataract Surgery?
Westwood Eye is one of the few ophthalmology practices in the nation who is able to provide dropless cataract surgery for our patients.
Is It More Expensive Than Other Cataract Surgeries?
No! Not only is it better, but less expensive for our patients. The necessary eye drops after standard cataract surgery can cost over $250 per eye. Dropless cataract surgery eliminates a lot of the post-surgery eye drop costs for our patients.
Laser Cataract Surgery
At the Westwood Eye, we are pleased to offer innovative technology that allows us to create a tailored treatment plan that is uniquely customized to your eye.
During laser cataract procedure, our surgeons use laser technology to create ultra-precise micro-incisions in the lens to gently remove the cataract and situate your new lens at the optimal location for the best visual outcome. This method is more gentle on the eye than traditional methods allowing for a faster recovery.
Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) Technology
Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) technology during cataract surgery ensures precise calculation for lens selection. This is a measurement done during surgery, after the natural lens has been removed. Although our surgeons are meticulous with their calculations, ORA is the only modern way to obtain intraoperative measurements. With the measurements it allows our surgeons to make real-time adjustments during the surgery to choose a more accurate lens. This technology often improves vision results and reduces the need for follow-up treatments.
Premium or Advanced Technology Intraocular Lens
During traditional cataract surgery, your eye’s natural lens will be replaced with a standard monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). The surgery will bring your vision back to where it was before the start of cataracts. However if you needed glasses or contact lenses for distant or reading vision before the onset of cataracts, you will still likely need them after cataract surgery. Many patients are happy with the standard lens, as it restores their vision to a functional level.
Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses (ATIOLs) are premium lenses that enhance your visual freedom. Many of our patients with these lenses have clear vision for reading and distance all at the same time, without the need for glasses or contacts. We offer the best premium lenses available. Some of these choices include:
Toric IOL for astigmatism correction such as AcrySof® IQ Toric, TECNIS® Monofocal Toric, and enVista® Toric
Extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOL such as Symfony®
Multifocal IOL (MFIOL) such as AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL and TECNIS® Multifocal IOL
Accommodating IOL such as Crystalens®
Trifocal IOL such as Alcon PanOptix® trifocal IOL
Many of these options can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts to see road signs, computer screens, menus, and labels. Let us help you see the world!
However, it is important to remember that not every patient is a candidate for advanced technology intraocular lens. Here at Westwood Eye we do a complete examination with advanced testing to determine if you are a candidate, and if so, which type of IOL. Selecting the right type of lens implant for your eye is very important for your visual outcome.
Many other eye centers may recommend the most expensive lens for all their patients but at our practice we believe in only offering the best lens suited for your ocular health and lifestyle, even if it is simply just the standard lens. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan right for you. We do not believe in a one size fits all approach!
Call our office at (702) 570-2820 to schedule a consultation for your cataract treatment.
A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. The lens inside our eye is responsible for focusing light on the back on the eye so that we can see things clearly. As the natural lens becomes cloudy, it diminishes the passage of light to the back of the eye. The light that does enter becomes scattered and blurred, often leaving you feeling as though you are looking through a dusty or foggy window. Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are gradual.