Cataract Procedure
You may not notice it very often, but your eyes are used for almost every single activity you perform throughout your day, everything from reading to driving to bird watching and playing golf. Throughout the life cycle, the proteins inside the lens of your eye may join together, turning the lens from clear to a cloudy color that will impair your vision.
Maintaining the best eye care health is Dr. Van Norman’s number one priority with all of his patients.
There are certain behaviors that can put you at a higher risk for getting a cataract. Some of these may behaviors include:
- spending too much time in the sun without using proper eye protection
- being a regular smoker, or being near them frequently
- having high blood sugar
- using steroid medications
- having prolonged exposure to radiation
Cataract surgery is the most common procedure performed by the ophthalmic surgeon.
This year, 3.6 million cataract procedures will be performed in the United States and more than 20 million will be performed worldwide, according to estimates.
In the United States, there are approximately 18,000 ophthalmologists, of whom 9,000 perform cataract surgery regularly. Thus, a typical surgeon might anticipate a surgical volume of about 400 eyes per year.
Most cataracts are highly treatable.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States, with approximately 98% of patients experiencing improved vision if there are no other eye conditions present.
How Cataract Surgery is performed:
Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
Laser-assisted cataract surgery has been used to remove cataracts for at least the past decade in the United States. This procedure provides the same outcome as traditional cataract surgery, but it makes use of a different method because of the advanced instruments. The surgeon utilizes a femtosecond laser to break up the cataracts, then using special software to create a surgical plan with a 3-D image of the eye called OCT (optical coherence tomography). This surgical plan includes the location, depth, and length of the cataract in all dimensions. By using this unique map of the eye, with the settings created in the software, the femtosecond laser will actually create the incisions and assist in the cataract removal with greater precision than a surgeon is capable of.
Light energy from the laser causes disruption of tissue borders with minimal damage to nearby tissue. The old lens is removed, and then, the new lens is inserted. Recovery time is known to be comparable with traditional cataract surgery, while most patients experience clearer vision and can resume normal activities rapidly after laser-assisted cataract surgery.
After Surgery
A postoperative regimen requires anti inflammatory and antibiotic medications. We offer a dropless option tailored to each patient when needed. Most patients recover without complications and are fully healed within 4-5 weeks.
An eye shield or eyeglasses may be recommended to help protect the eyes while outdoors. Avoid rubbing or pressing on the eyes after surgery. After a day or two any mild discomfort should disappear.