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Different Types of Cataract Surgery
Posted by: Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center
Your natural eye lenses work much like a camera, allowing you to focus on objects so that you can process what you are seeing. When you have a cataract, your eye lens develops a clouding effect that causes blurry, dim, and faded vision—diminishing your eye’s ability to focus.
The most common symptoms of cataracts include:
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty driving or recognizing faces
- Poor night vision and fading of colors
- Light sensitivity
- Needing brighter light to read
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and they are interfering with your normal routine or daily activities, cataract surgery at Mitchell Eye Center is the best option to restore your vision. Cataract surgery is an extremely safe procedure that can also correct distance vision and astigmatism by removing your cataract and replacing it with a modern artificial lens.
About Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is a simple procedure with an excellent success record. During the procedure your clouded natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). The surgery is done on an outpatient basis with a topical anesthetic that will make it painless, and it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You should experience no pain before, during, or after your surgery. The procedure is performed on one eye at a time, with a short healing period in between. At Mitchell Eye Center, we believe in providing patients with all the information they need to make the right decision about their eye treatment. As such, we’d like to help you understand the difference between traditional cataract surgery and laser cataract surgery. Both procedures are safe, effective, and can help you regain your clear vision.
What is Traditional Cataract Surgery?
After making a very small incision outside your field of vision, your eye surgeon will insert a tiny probe that uses ultrasound to break up the clouded natural lens. Once the natural lens is removed, the IOL will be inserted and correctly positioned.
What is Laser Cataract Surgery?
Many of the same steps of traditional cataract surgery are performed with handheld instruments; however, when performing laser cataract surgery, eye doctors use a Femto laser to create precise incisions, including the circular incision to access and remove the cataract.
What are the Differences Between Laser Cataract Surgery and Traditional Cataract Surgery?
Both procedures quickly and effectively produce clearer vision with minimal discomfort, but the main differences between the two methods are:
- Laser cataract surgery does not require a blade
- Laser cataract surgery offers greater precision and accuracy
- Lasers can also be used to treat an irregular shaped cornea
What Happens During Recovery?
For a quicker recovery, it is important that you take precautions and all medications according to your eye doctor’s instructions. You will need to wear a patch over your eye for a short time, as well as a plastic shield at bedtime to cover and protect your eye. Most cataract surgery patients return to their normal activities within a day or two of surgery.
About Intraocular Lenses
There are various types of IOLs that can be used to replace your natural lens. A standard monofocal intraocular lens provides clear vision at a specific distance. These lenses offer an overall improvement in clarity and function, but reading glasses are almost always necessary for near vision. There are premium lens options to be considered in order to avoid the need for eyeglasses.
What is a Premium Intraocular Lens?
If you would like the freedom of not wearing glasses or contacts, or if you have astigmatism problems, premium IOLs are the best option. Toric IOLs are premium monofocal lenses because they also correct refractive disorders such as astigmatisms. Because Toric IOLs are convex on both sides, they correct astigmatisms, as well as near and farsightedness, in addition to fixing the cataract.
A premium lifestyle multifocal IOL is the most advanced lens—providing clean and clear vision at various distances without the necessity of glasses. Compared to conventional IOLs, premium lenses provide several advantages:
- Improved vision at a wide range of distances
- Enhanced quality of vision in general
- The ability to read more easily and comfortably
How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?
The cost of cataract surgery varies based on several factors, such as:
- Whether you choose laser cataract surgery or traditional cataract surgery
- The type of IOL you choose
- If only one eye or both eyes need cataract treatment
During your consultation at our Boca Raton office, your eye doctor will conduct a medical evaluation and review the treatment options that will best meet your needs, lifestyle, and budget.
What are the Options?
Traditionally there are three routes cataract surgery patients take:
- Monofocal – Either laser or traditional cataract surgery, which will provide better vision at a specific distance, but eyeglasses will be required for reading.
- Toric – Either laser or traditional cataract surgery, which will also correct astigmatism.
- Multifocal – Either laser or traditional cataract surgery, which will provide the clearest near and far vision without the need for eyeglasses.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts and want to learn more about all your IOL and cataract surgery options, please contact Mitchell Eye Center in our state-of-the-art Boca Raton, FL office. You can also make an appointment online now. Let us help you get back to your life with clearer vision!
