About Cataract Surgery - Eye Care and Treatment Information

When it comes to common aberrations of the eye, it doesn't get any more common than cataracts. More than half of the 65+ set has or has had cataracts, and a significant majority of the population will develop cataracts by 75. Though cataracts have long been the most common cause for blindness, thanks to recent advances in laser eye surgery today virtually all cataracts can be treated.

Many people suffering from loss of vision due to the formation of cataracts seek temporary remedies like a stronger prescription and further safeguard themselves by avoiding activities like driving at night. These steps offer a quick fix for people whose cataracts have not yet progressed to a serious level, but ultimately the only permanent way to treat cataracts is through cataract surgery.

Cataracts cause the eye's lens to thicken and cloud. These effects on the lens are permanent, so the only way to restore clear vision to a patient suffering from cataracts is to remove and replace the effected lens. In a matter of minutes, a skilled eye surgeon can remove the eye's lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (or IOL). The IOL mimics the functions of a natural lens without the risk of recurring cataracts.

There are several different methods of cataract surgery. In the most popular procedures, the lasik eye surgeon makes a tiny incision in the side of the eye with a scalpel and then removes the lens manually. Recently though, the FDA approved the use of femtosecond lasers for cataract treatment.

Patients that only have cataracts in one eye will only need one surgery, but patients with cataracts in both eyes will generally have the operations done on separate dates; the eye with the worst vision is treated first and allowed to heal before the surgeon proceeds to the other eye.

For most patients, cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure; that means that the operation can be completed and that the patient can return home within the same day. Post-op vision improvement is immediate, and most patients experience optimum results within 24 hours of their surgery.

For more information on cataract surgery and lasik surgery, contact our Long Island vision correction center.