5th Avenue Eye Center

Explore your options with cataract surgery

During Cataract surgery the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with a new lens. The main question is what type of lens is used to replace that natural lens. In order to understand your options, you need to understand how the eyes work when we are young (under 40 years of age). The ideal that we need to strive for is to restore the eyes’ functionality as close to the “young eye” as possible. The...

The Toric AcrySof Intraocular Lens

Cataract Surgery: The Basics Cataracts are a common eye disorder that is characterized by a cloudiness of the natural lens of the eye. The result is hazy or blurred vision. In addition to cataracts, patients may have other refractive problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism. Correcting cataracts can only be done with the surgical removal of the cataract lens. Dr. Ilan...

Modern Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgery: The Basics Cataracts are a common eye disorder in which the natural crystalline lens in the eye becomes cloudy and disrupts vision. Cataracts may be caused by a number of different factors, but most are attributable to age. The only way to treat cataracts is with surgical removal of the cataract lens. Cataract surgery has been performed for thousands of years in some crude fashion, but modern...

Crystalens Advantage

Cataract Surgery: The Basics With age, a number of different conditions can affect your eyesight. One of the most common conditions is a cataract. Cataracts are characterized by a clouding of the natural crystalline lens of the eye. Cataracts can get progressively worse and result in blindness if not treated. In addition to age, trauma, certain diseases, exposure to certain medications and exposure to radiation...

TECNIS Multifocal Benefits, Procedure and Candidacy

As we age, cataracts are inevitable for most of us. At the 5th Avenue Eye Center, we offer TECNIS multifocal lenses that effectively cure cataracts and to help you regain the eyesight of your youth. The TECNIS multifocal implantable lens is a premium IOL (intraocular lens). It can replace a human lens that needs to be removed due to clouding and other damage caused by cataracts. When we are young (usually under 45)...

The ReZoom Lens – Advantages and Disadvantages

Whether it’s cataracts or presbyopia, getting older can dramatically alter your vision in a negative way. Cataracts occur when your natural lenses cloud over, and presbyopia occurs when you lose your ability to focus you eyes on near objects (accommodation). The only treatment for cataracts is to remove the cataract lens surgically and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL). In the past, most standard...

The ReSTOR Lens

Cataract Surgery: The Basics Cataracts are a common condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. The cloudiness makes it difficult for light to focus in the eye and the result is a haziness of vision and other visual disturbances. At present, the only way to treat a cataract is to remove it surgically. Cataract surgery is one of the most common eye surgeries performed, and for an experienced...

Cataract Surgery and Presbyopia (Vision After 40)

As eyes age, vision problems seem almost inevitable for most people. Cataracts and presbyopia are common issues that affect many people over the age of 40. Each year, more than 2.5 million people under go corrective surgery for cataracts. In fact, by the age of 80, estimates indicate that more than half of all Americans will either have cataracts or have had surgery to correct cataracts. Presbyopia affects nearly...

Cataracts & Astigmatism

Cataracts and astigmatism are common ophthalmologic issues that affect millions of Americans. Cataract surgery and lens implantation can take care of cloudiness or glare problems caused by cataracts. During this procedure, astigmatism can also be corrected for many people. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of the eye becomes shaped like an oblong football instead of a rounded basketball. This causes blurring at...

Choosing a cataract surgeon

The process of choosing the right cataract surgeon for you can be daunting. It can be tough to know whether a doctor’s claims on paper or on a website are actually true. However, there are some sure-fire ways to research the track record of success of any cataract surgeon. Most surgeons will be able to refer you to clients who have undergone surgical procedures at their facilities. You can also read Internet...

Cataract Surgery & Glaucoma

The lens of your eye is responsible for focusing light on the objects you see. If the lens is clouded, then you can’t see things clearly, and this is known as a cataract. It can form gradually over many years or you can be born with a cataract. For some people, cataracts are not even noticeable. They just find themselves turning on more lights to read or having trouble with glares while driving at night. Most...

Cataract surgery recovery

Cataract surgery is one of the most common ophthalmologic surgical procedures performed in the United States. It is widely accepted as a safe, effective solution to impaired vision caused by cataracts. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure in the vast majority of cases. It takes only a matter of minutes and involves making a tiny incision in the lens of the eye and using high-frequency sound waves to break up...

What does cataract surgery cost?

The total cost of cataract surgery is typically an accumulation of a number of expenses, including doctor’s visits, facilities charges, anesthesia, supplies and the surgery itself. On average, the total cost of cataract surgery in the United States is $3,000 to $5,000 per eye if you pay for the surgery out-of-pocket. Medicare and health insurance plans can help defray most or even all of these costs, minus...

Symptoms & Types of Cataracts

Symptoms of Cataracts A cataract (the clouding of the eye’s lens) can occur for a variety of reasons, although most cases are due to the aging process. The symptoms of a cataract may be noticed gradually, over time, or suddenly with rapid onset. Typically, though, cataracts are painless and only dangerous when they obstruct your vision to the point that you can’t complete normal activities, such as driving. Here...

Cataract Surgery FAQs

What is a Cataract? Can a Cataract Come Back After Surgery? If I have an old fashioned, monofocal lens put in my eyes, can I change it at a later time? Do I need to wait until my cataracts mature before surgery? What Causes Cataracts and How Do They Form? What Happens During Surgery? Is Cataract Surgery Painful? What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery? What are the Risks of Cataract Surgery? Do I have to stop...

What causes a cataract?

As the eyes age, they become less able to process light and reflect sharp images due to a gradual clouding of the lens – this is called a cataract. The vast majority of cataracts sufferers have developed this condition as a result of the aging process. As a matter of fact, nearly half of all Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts (called “senile cataracts”) or have had surgery to correct them. In addition...

What is cataract surgery?

What should you expect from a modern Cataract Surgery? No Retro-bulbar Injection: This injection behind the eye used to be customary in old-fashioned cataract surgery. However it is associated with the risk of bleeding and optic nerve damage. Avoid surgeons who use it routinely. No stitches: A Surgeon versed with small, self-sealing, micro-incision technology has no need for routine stitching. No Patch: With modern...

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that obstructs normal vision. Typically, your eye’s lenses should be clear, allowing you to see people and objects in crisp focus. Cataracts, though, create a fog-like effect over all or part of lenses so that things appear blurry and out of focus. When your eye’s lenses are working the way they should, light passes through the cornea (this is the clear dome...