Cataract surgery is highly successful in the safe restoration of vision and is considered one of the most successful surgical procedures in all of medicine.
Phacoemulsification
One treatment option is a surgical procedure called phacoemulsification with implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). Despite some popular claims and beliefs, cataracts cannot be magically “beamed out” of the eye with a laser.
Cataract surgery using phacoemulsification involves a small (3-millimeter) (less than 2.0 mm) incision that is made with an ultrasonic tip that vibrates at 40,000 times per second to remove the cataract. A permanent intraocular lens (IOL), which is individually selected for each patient, replaces the cataract lens. The IOL focuses light in a manner similar to the way the natural lens did before it became a cataract. The IOL also has an ultraviolet filter to protect the retina, in the back of the eye, from sunlight injury. The incision is self-sealing, requiring no sutures. Currently, the following premium IOLs are available:
- Tecnis Multifocal
- ReSTOR
- Crystalens
- Toric
The entire procedure is performed in about 15 minutes with local anesthesia and anesthetic drops. The recovery period is about three weeks.
Presbyopic Correcting Implants for Cataract Surgery
There are a group of implanted lenses that while not covered by insurance allow you to see both close and distance without glasses.