Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It can be compared to a window that is frosted or yellowed.

The amount and pattern of cloudiness within the lens can vary. If the cloudiness is not near the center of the lens, you may not be aware that a cataract is present.

There are many misconceptions about cataracts. A cataract is not:

  • A film over the eye;

  • Caused by overusing the eyes;

  • Spread from one eye to the other;

  • A cause of irreversible blindness

Common symptoms of cataracts include:

  • Painless blurring of vision;

  • Glare, or light sensitivity;

  • Poor night vision;

  • Double vision in one eye;

  • Needing brighter light to read;

  • Fading or yellowing of colors

Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery

Traditionally, surgeons accomplished cataract surgery by making tiny incisions in the eye using a surgical knife. Today, patients like you have a choice: There’s manual surgery, and there are also bladeless procedures assisted by advanced laser technology. The LenSx® Laser, for example, offers image guidance for predictability and enhanced precision.

While our eyes all share the same basic anatomy, your eyes are totally unique when it comes to their size, depth, curvature and other key features. The LenSx® Laser allows your surgeon to plan and perform a procedure that’s completely customized for each of your eyes.

For more than a decade, femtosecond lasers have helped surgeons perform LASIK with unparalleled precision and accuracy. Now the LenSx® Laser brings advanced accuracy and reproducibility to cataract surgery.

 

Premium Lenses 

In the past, cataract patients were confined to thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses after their cataract removal surgeries. Now intraocular lenses—known in the industry as IOLs—are more and more common as patients and surgeons are impressed with the ease and success of replacing the failing cornea with an artificial, implanted lens.

These premium lenses are designed to help cataract patients experience the clearest vision they have had in years. Today’s multifocal IOLs not only allow for crisp vision at varying focal points, they can also completely eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. Other premium lenses are specifically designed to correct or eliminate astigmatism, and they allow patients to manage their vision in the way that fits their lifestyle.

Statistically speaking, cataract removal and IOL implantation has one of the highest success rates among all surgeries. However, since all surgeries carry risks, it's important to talk to your surgeon about the benefits of premium lenses and any concerns you might have.