Cataract surgery is usually quite straightforward. The surgery itself is conducted at the Phillips Eye Institute as an outpatient with sedation and local anesthesia. A small incision is made in the cornea. Through this incision, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an acrylic intraocular lens.
The incision seals itself and no suture is generally needed. Antibiotics are applied and a patch or shield is placed over the eye overnight.
Dr. Carlson has a cataract surgical complication rate of less than sixteen hundredths of a percent, compared to the national average of 3% for ophthalmologists.
Intraocular Lens Options
Several different kinds of intraocular lenses may be used to replace the eye’s natural lens. This lens is very small (see image to right) and attaches directly to the eye during surgery.
Most commonly, an acrylic intraocular lens of a single power – set for distance vision – is placed within the eye. Sometimes, a person prefers to read without glasses and instead use glasses for distance vision. If this is the case, the lens is set for slight nearsightedness so that the person can read without glasses. In this case, the person will need glasses for watching TV, driving and other distant activities.
Another good option is known as “Mono Vision.” With this option, a patient obtains both distance and near vision without glasses. In this situation, an implant set for distance is placed in the dominant eye, with another implant set for near vision placed in the non-dominant eye.
An even better option to reduce dependency on glasses after cataract surgery is the placement of a multifocal, intraocular lens. Over 70% of people with this type of lens in each eye do not need to wear glasses after surgery.
YAG Laser Capsulotomy
During cataract surgery, a thin membrane on the back surface of the natural lens is left
in place. It helps to support the intraocular lens for the first few weeks of healing. However, 20% of the time this natural membrane can become cloudy and reduce vision. At Claris, a YAG laser is used to safely treat this membrane and eliminate cloudiness. The procedure takes 5 to 10 minutes.
For more information about these and other cataract procedures, please contact us at 612.775.8009 or by email at info@clariseyecare.com.
You may submit immediate questions via the blue Contact Us box located to the right.
For information on financing options visit Care Credit online