Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the world. A cataract is a clouding or opacity of the natural lens inside the eye. The lens is located just behind the iris (the colored part of your eye). It functions somewhat like the lens on a camera, focusing the light that enters your eye onto the retina. However, when the lens becomes cloudy, it prevents light and images from passing through to the retina, and the vision becomes impaired. By far, the most common cause of cataracts is the natural aging process. It accounts for over 90% of all cases of cataracts. Medications (such as steroids), trauma, diabetes, genetics, and ultraviolet light can also contribute to the development of cataracts. As a general rule, most cataracts develop slowly over time, from months to years, before they mature enough to start affecting vision and interfering in daily activities.

Treatment of Cataracts

The presence of a cataract alone isn’t an indication for cataract surgery. Many cataracts are mild, and require no treatment in the absence of significant symptoms. If cataracts are not interfering with daily activities, your doctor will just observe and monitor them. Sometimes a change in your prescription will help reduce some of the blurred vision induced by the cataract. However, when your vision is diminished to the point that your daily activities are affected (driving at night, reading stock quotes, etc.), cataract surgery is indicated. While this prospect often frightens some patients, the opportunity to restore clear, sharp vision makes cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful operative procedures. Patients are amazed that they can often see better the day after the surgery than they have in many years. Please contact Watertown Eye Center today for an appointment to have your cataract evaluated. Your vision shouldn’t be compromised at any age.

Cataract Surgery Procedure

The surgeons at Watertown Eye Center use the most advanced “No Stitch, No Patch” Phacoemulsfication to remove your cataract through a very small incision. Phacoemulsification employs ultrasound energy to break up, or emulsify, the cataract and then gently suction it out of the eye. Since no sutures are used during the surgery, the visual recovery is much faster and there is minimal downtime. Most patients don’t need an eye patch and can return to work, driving and regular activities the day after surgery. 

This cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. After you receive medication to help you relax, the eye is numbed so that the procedure is essentially painless. During the surgery a tiny incision is made into the clear cornea, and the cataract is removed with a specially designed ultrasonic probe. The “phaco” probe breaks the cataract into little fragments and vacuums the tiny fragments out of the eye at the same time. After the cataract is removed, an intraocular lens (IOL) or “implant” is placed in the same natural lens capsule that held the lens in place.

Intraocular Lenses to Correct Presbyopia and Astigmatism

An intraocular lens is a small lens that is implanted in the eye at the time of cataract surgery. The most commonly implanted lens is the monofocal lens. With this lens, patients will generally need glasses for reading and/or correction of astigmatism. Recently, the FDA has approved a number of new, advanced intraocular lenses that can provide better results by correcting vision problems such as presbyopia and astigmatism.

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process, beginning at around age 40. In aging patients, there is a loss of flexibility in the eye lens, which results in a diminished ability to focus up close. The Watertown Eye Center doctors are proud to offer the most advanced intraocular lenses to correct presbyopia. We regularly implant the ReZoom™, AcrySof® ReSTOR® , and Crystalens to correct presbyopia in our patients.

What is an Astigmatism?

In cases of astigmatism, the cornea is curved more in one direction than another. An astigmatic cornea will be shaped more like a football than a baseball. Because of the irregular shape, some light rays do not focus clearly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision. At the time of cataract surgery, a special implant can be inserted to reduce astigmatism. The doctors at the Center for Sight and Watertown Eye Center are proud to offer the AcrySof® Toric IOL for the reduction of astigmatism. Ask your Watertown Eye Center surgeon if Acrysof® Toric IOL is right for you.