Cataract Surgery FAQ

Cataract Surgery FAQ

 


What is a Cataract?

A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye. Cataracts can occur gradually over time or they can be present at birth. Most commonly, though, cataracts affect older Americans above age 60. In fact, estimates indicate that more than half of all Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts or have had surgery to correct them. This condition is widely accepted as a natural part of the aging process. - Return to top


Can a Cataract Come Back After Surgery?

No. Once the lens has been completely removed, a cataract cannot form on the implanted lens. It is important to note, however, that lens capsule (the tissue bag surrounding the replacement lens) can become clouded over time and can mimic symptoms of a cataract. In these cases, a very simple outpatient procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy is needed to create a hole for light to pass through the lens again. - Return to top


If I have an old fashion, monofocal lens put in my eyes, can I change it at a later time?

The answer is generally no. Once the lens is put in it is going to be very difficult to change it due to tissue healing around it. - Return to top


Do I need to wait until my cataracts mature before surgery?

No. Old fashion surgeons used to remove the cataract through a large incision made into the eye. The cataract would then be expelled from the eye by manual pressure (like a pimple) and a lens implant would be inserted. The closure of such wound required many sutures and took a long time to heal. This process would require a hard or “mature” lens, so it would come out in one piece. Using modern, suturelss cataract surgery techniques actually work much better and with less trauma to surrounding tissues when the lens is softer. Therefore, a mature lens is no longer a requirement. However, the surgeon does need to verify that the cataracts are visually significant. - Return to top


What Causes Cataracts and How Do They Form?

The lens of the eye is responsible for passing light through to the retina, which in turn, reflects images to our brain so that we can see properly. A cataract is formed when the soft, flexible tissue of the lens goes through a state change and begins to cloud over due to a variety of causes, including prolonged exposure to the sun, smoking and diabetes. When the lens gets cloudy due to cataracts, light can’t pass through effectively and objects become fuzzy and out of focus. Left untreated, cataracts can become very dense, causing blindness. - Return to top


What Happens During Surgery?

During cataract surgery, Dr. Cohen will use a phacoemulsification (ultrasound) device to break up the affected lens with high-frequency sounds waves. The tissue is then washed away and an intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted in its place. IOLs are either monofocal (one distance) or multifocal (all distance) and allow your eye to properly interpret light in order to produce clear, crisp images, often without the need for eyeglasses. Some patients may still need glasses, however, particularly with monofocal lens replacement. - Return to top


Is Cataract Surgery Painful?

No. Most of our patients report little to no discomfort during or after cataract surgery. During surgery, you will be administered anesthetic drops to numb your eyes. Afterwards, you can take over-the-counter pain medications if you feel any pain or irritation. - Return to top


What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery improves vision to pre-cataract state. If multifocal IOLs are implanted, then you can even improve your vision beyond what it used to be. This procedure has a 98% success rate and can improve your overall quality of life. - Return to top


What are the Risks of Cataract Surgery?

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Millions of people have safely undergone cataract surgery, but there have been a small number of complications reported. We will take the time to discuss the risks with you at The Fifth Avenue Eye Center. Call to set up a vision consultation today. - Return to top

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