CATARACT SURGERY
At Palm Valley Eye we are here to help you navigate the best approach to cataract surgery.
Dr. Scott specializes in cataract surgery, offering both traditional and the most advanced technology available. We are here to asses your visual goals and provide the most personalized surgical plan to achieve your best vision.
CATARACT SURGERY
At Palm Valley Eye we are here to help you navigate the best approach to cataract surgery.
Dr. Scott specializes in cataract surgery, offering both traditional and the most advanced technology available. We are here to asses your visual goals and provide the most personalized surgical plan to achieve your best vision.
WHAT IS A CATARACT?
A cataract is a gradual clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The clouding affects light as it passes through the lens, resulting in blurred vision. Most cataracts are related to age. By the age of 80, more than half of all Americans either have cataracts or have undergone cataract surgery. If left untreated, cataracts will gradually worsen and can affect your ability to perform regular functions like driving, reading, and watching tv. In some cases, they can become so severe that they lead to blindness.
SYMPTOMS OF A CATARACT
- Clouded or blurry vision
- Colors seem faded
- Glare from headlights, lamps or sunlight
- Halos around lights
- Poor night vision
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses
Pamela Chait
“I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND MY RESULTS. I RECENTLY HAD CATARACT SURGERY ON BOTH OF MY EYES. I’M SEEING A WHOLE NEW WORLD.”
Pamela Chait
“I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND MY RESULTS. I RECENTLY HAD CATARACT SURGERY ON BOTH OF MY EYES. I’M SEEING A WHOLE NEW WORLD.”
WHAT CAUSES CATARACTS?
While cataracts are usually associated with age, this visual condition can also be caused by the following:
- Genetics: People with a family history of cataracts are more likely to develop them.
- Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can promote cataract formation.
- Eye Injuries: Trauma to the eye can lead to cataracts.
- UV Exposure: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to cataract formation.
- Lifestyle Factors: Lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor nutrition can increase the risk of cataracts.
- Medications: Long-term use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, are linked to increased risk of cataracts.
WHAT CAUSES CATARACTS?
While cataracts are usually associated with age, this visual condition can also be caused by the following:
- Genetics: People with a family history of cataracts are more likely to develop them.
- Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can promote cataract formation.
- Eye Injuries: Trauma to the eye can lead to cataracts.
- UV Exposure: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to cataract formation.
- Lifestyle Factors: Lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor nutrition can increase the risk of cataracts.
- Medications: Long-term use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, are linked to increased risk of cataracts.
CATARACT DIAGNOSIS
Before you can treat cataracts, you need an accurate diagnosis. This process involves a comprehensive eye exam that typically includes the following:
- Medical History Review: The eye doctor will start by discussing your symptoms, medical history and any risk factors that could contribute to cataract development.
- Visual Acuity Test: Also known as an eye chart test, this measures how well you can see at different distances.
- Contrast and Glare Testing, Refraction: These tests evaluate reduced vision under specific settings that may cause difficulty with daily life activities.
- Slit-Lamp Examination: This examination reviews the anterior portion of the eye with a microscope, specifically evaluating the surface of the eye and the lens.
- Retinal Exam: After dilating your eyes, a magnifying lens is used to examine the back parts of the eye to ensure no other conditions are contributing to vision changes.
CATARACT DIAGNOSIS
Before you can treat cataracts, you need an accurate diagnosis. This process involves a comprehensive eye exam that typically includes the following:
- Medical History Review: The eye doctor will start by discussing your symptoms, medical history and any risk factors that could contribute to cataract development.
- Visual Acuity Test: Also known as an eye chart test, this measures how well you can see at different distances.
- Contrast and Glare Testing, Refraction: These tests evaluate reduced vision under specific settings that may cause difficulty with daily life activities.
- Slit-Lamp Examination: This examination reviews the anterior portion of the eye with a microscope, specifically evaluating the surface of the eye and the lens.
- Retinal Exam: After dilating your eyes, a magnifying lens is used to examine the back parts of the eye to ensure no other conditions are contributing to vision changes.
HOW ARE CATARACTS TREATED?
The only treatment for cataracts at this time, is surgical removal. The procedure entails making small, self-sealing, incisions in the cornea, breaking apart and removing the cataract pieces, and then placing a new artificial intraocular lens. The surgery is performed under light sedation with IV medications and topical numbing drops. Patients go home after the surgery.
HOW ARE CATARACTS TREATED?
The only treatment for cataracts at this time, is surgical removal. The procedure entails making small, self-sealing, incisions in the cornea, breaking apart and removing the cataract pieces, and then placing a new artificial intraocular lens. The surgery is performed under light sedation with IV medications and topical numbing drops. Patients go home after the surgery.
BENEFITS OF CATARACT SURGERY
There are many benefits of cataract surgery, including the following:
- Improved Vision: The primary benefit of cataract surgery is that it helps restore vision, resulting in enhanced clarity, color quality, and contrast.
- Quick Recovery: Cataract surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with a relatively fast recovery time. Most patients can return to normal activity 1 week after the surgery.
- Long-Term Results: Once a cataract is removed, it can not reform. Sometimes patients develop scar tissue behind the lens, which is treated with an outpatient laser procedure.
- Better Quality of Life: Studies show that cataract surgery improves your quality of life due to enhanced ability to read, drive, and watch tv.
- Positive Impact on Mental Health: Improved vision enhances social engagement and participation in social activities.
- Reduced Risk of Falls: Improved vision reduces the risk of falls and related injuries, especially in older adults.
- Custom Options: Patients can choose between a variety of surgical options that best suite their vision goals. Options include laser-assisted surgery, astigmatism correcting (Toric) lenses, monovision, extended depth of focus, and trifocal IOLs.
BENEFITS OF CATARACT SURGERY
There are many benefits of cataract surgery, including the following:
- Improved Vision: The primary benefit of cataract surgery is that it helps restore vision, resulting in enhanced clarity, color quality, and contrast.
- Quick Recovery: Cataract surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with a relatively fast recovery time. Most patients can return to normal activity 1 week after the surgery.
- Long-Term Results: Once a cataract is removed, it can not reform. Sometimes patients develop scar tissue behind the lens, which is treated with an outpatient laser procedure.
- Better Quality of Life: Studies show that cataract surgery improves your quality of life due to enhanced ability to read, drive, and watch tv.
- Positive Impact on Mental Health: Improved vision enhances social engagement and participation in social activities.
- Reduced Risk of Falls: Improved vision reduces the risk of falls and related injuries, especially in older adults.
- Custom Options: Patients can choose between a variety of surgical options that best suite their vision goals. Options include laser-assisted surgery, astigmatism correcting (Toric) lenses, monovision, extended depth of focus, and trifocal IOLs.
LASER TREATMENTS
At Palm Valley Eye, we are not here to sell you the most expensive options. Our goals are focused on providing you with a personalized package that achieves your best vision.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. Dr. Scott currently offers surgery at the Jacksonville Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center.
During cataract surgery, a patient can expect to be lightly sedated with IV medications. The surgery is performed with the patient lying on their back and under a microscope. Incisions are created in the front part of the eye (cornea), a circular hole is created in the front part of the lens capsule, the cataract is broken apart and vacuumed out, and adherent tissue is further removed. An intraocular lens is positioned into the remaining capsular bag, surgical material is cleaned from the eye, and the self-sealing wounds are stabilized. Patients have limited activities and wear a protective shield while sleeping for 1 week and use eye drops for approximately 4 weeks.
At Palm Valley Eye, we are not here to sell you the most expensive options. Our goals are focused on providing you with a personalized package that achieves your best vision.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. Dr. Scott currently offers surgery at the Jacksonville Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center.
During cataract surgery, a patient can expect to be lightly sedated with IV medications. The surgery is performed with the patient lying on their back and under a microscope. Incisions are created in the front part of the eye (cornea), a circular hole is created in the front part of the lens capsule, the cataract is broken apart and vacuumed out, and adherent tissue is further removed. An intraocular lens is positioned into the remaining capsular bag, surgical material is cleaned from the eye, and the self-sealing wounds are stabilized. Patients have limited activities and wear a protective shield while sleeping for 1 week and use eye drops for approximately 4 weeks.
FEMTOSECOND LASER
In laser-assisted cataract surgery, the femtosecond laser may replace or assist use of a hand-held surgical tool for the following steps in cataract surgery:
- Incisions on the front part of the eye for cataract surgery
- Incisions on the front part of the eye to treat astigmatism
- Anterior capsulotomy, or the circular hole made in the lens capsule
- Fragmentation of the lens and cataract
Use of the laser can improve the precision, accuracy and reproducibility of each of these steps, potentially reducing risks and improving outcomes of cataract surgery in some patients.
INTRAOCULAR LENSES (IOLs)
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are artificial lenses that are implanted during cataract surgery. They replace the clouded natural lens, restoring clear vision and can further be optimized to provide refractive corrections to reduce dependency on glasses after surgery.
Today there are a wide variety of lenses to choose from. At Palm Valley Eye, we get to know the lifestyle and visual needs you want to achieve, so that we can choose the intraocular lens that is best suited for you.
MONOFOCAL IOLs
Monofocal lenses are designed to provide clear vision at a single focal point (usually far away for good driving vision, for example). With monofocal lenses you must wear eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to use a computer, read or perform other close up tasks. Another option is to utilize Monovision and place one ocular lens focused for distance and one for near.
Monofocal IOLs are the most common type of lens used in cataract surgery. Many patients choose to have monofocal IOLs to improve their far distance vision, then use reading glasses to assist with near vision. These lenses do not correct astigmatism; therefore, patients with astigmatism will likely require prescription glasses after their surgery.
TORIC INTRAOCULAR LENSES
Toric IOLs are premium intraocular lenses that correct astigmatism. They are also set to focus on one distance, either far away or up close.
Astigmatism may also be corrected by performing limbal relaxing incisions, or LRIs. Sometimes the two procedures must be combined to achieve effective results.
Astigmatism is a condition in which the cornea is irregularly shaped, resulting in blurred vision. By correcting astigmatism and cataracts simultaneously, these IOLs help reduce dependency on glasses after surgery.
MULTIFOCAL IOLs
Multifocal IOLs offer corrective options that include distance, intermediate, and near focal points. They are designed to reduce dependency on glasses after surgery. These lenses are great options for patients who have healthy eyes and are motivated to be glasses independent after surgery, understanding that they may also cause glare and halo side effects.
Because they offer multiple focusing distances, these lenses are a useful solution for patients who need a broad range of vision correction.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CATARACT SURGERY
Does insurance cover cataract surgery?
Medical insurance covers cataract surgery when the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Our office provides this evaluation and recommendation for surgery only when your cataract has reached this point. Other costs with cataract surgery that are typically covered by your medical insurance include the facility and anesthesia costs. These prices vary based on your insurance plan. Premium lenses and astigmatism correction are not covered by medical insurance.
How long does cataract surgery take?
Cataract surgery typically takes around 10 minutes to complete. The time you are at the outpatient surgery center is generally around 3 hours in total.
What are the disadvantages of cataract surgery?
Most patients have significant benefits from cataract surgery. Like any surgery, there are risks of complications, although very rare. Other disadvantages include brief worsening of dry eyes or poor understanding of the visual expectations after surgery related to IOL choices.
Who can be a candidate for cataract surgery?
All patients with visual impairment from cataracts are candidates for surgery. Patients with very severe medical conditions may not be eligible for this procedure at an ambulatory surgery center. Our team will carefully consider your health and medical history to ensure you are a safe candidate.
What should I expect after cataract surgery?
After cataract surgery, you should expect a relatively quick recovery period and a substantial improvement in vision. While some patients experience side effects (including mild burning, foreign body sensation, halos, or light flickers), these effects are usually mild and go away relatively quickly.
How long should you wait between cataract surgery on each eye?
Cataract surgery is typically performed on the first eye, followed by the second eye 1-3 weeks later. Your doctor may recommend a longer wait period depending on your particular circumstances.
What is the cataract surgery recovery period?
Most patients have minor irritation and blurry vision that clears within 1-2 days. Patients are directed to use a shield while sleeping and have limited activities for 1 week after the surgery. Eye drops are used for 4 weeks after the surgery, in most cases. Most surgeons consider the surgery to be fully stabilized around 1 month; however, some patients may require a longer period of time, up to 3 months.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CATARACT SURGERY
Does insurance cover cataract surgery?
Medical insurance covers cataract surgery when the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Our office provides this evaluation and recommendation for surgery only when your cataract has reached this point. Other costs with cataract surgery that are typically covered by your medical insurance include the facility and anesthesia costs. These prices vary based on your insurance plan. Premium lenses and astigmatism correction are not covered by medical insurance.
How long does cataract surgery take?
Cataract surgery typically takes around 10 minutes to complete. The time you are at the outpatient surgery center is generally around 3 hours in total.
What are the disadvantages of cataract surgery?
Most patients have significant benefits from cataract surgery. Like any surgery, there are risks of complications, although very rare. Other disadvantages include brief worsening of dry eyes or poor understanding of the visual expectations after surgery related to IOL choices.
Who can be a candidate for cataract surgery?
All patients with visual impairment from cataracts are candidates for surgery. Patients with very severe medical conditions may not be eligible for this procedure at an ambulatory surgery center. Our team will carefully consider your health and medical history to ensure you are a safe candidate.
What should I expect after cataract surgery?
After cataract surgery, you should expect a relatively quick recovery period and a substantial improvement in vision. While some patients experience side effects (including mild burning, foreign body sensation, halos, or light flickers), these effects are usually mild and go away relatively quickly.
How long should you wait between cataract surgery on each eye?
Cataract surgery is typically performed on the first eye, followed by the second eye 1-3 weeks later. Your doctor may recommend a longer wait period depending on your particular circumstances.
What is the cataract surgery recovery period?
Most patients have minor irritation and blurry vision that clears within 1-2 days. Patients are directed to use a shield while sleeping and have limited activities for 1 week after the surgery. Eye drops are used for 4 weeks after the surgery, in most cases. Most surgeons consider the surgery to be fully stabilized around 1 month; however, some patients may require a longer period of time, up to 3 months.
Improve Your Vision at Palm Valley Eye Care & Surgeons.
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