Cataract Surgery

Cataracts, the leading cause of treatable blindness, create vision cloudiness and develop for a variety of reasons, but most commonly result as part of the aging process. However, they can also be caused by long-term ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, trauma to the eye and as secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes. Cataracts typically require surgical removal and replacement of the eye's lens. Fortunately, there have been tremendous advances in cataract surgery in the past several years. The likelihood of recovering good vision after surgery is now excellent, although complications can occur in 1 – 3% of patients.  There is remarkably very little discomfort after cataract surgery. The most common method of cataract removal is phacoemulsification. In this technique a tiny vibrating ultrasonic probe creates high energy sound waves that break the cataract into smaller particles. These particles are gently suctioned out of the eye. Using a small incision speeds up healing after surgery. The method to restore vision after cataract removal is to implant an intraocular lens into the eye at the time of surgery. This clear artificial implant is placed in the eye behind the iris and pupil in the same position as the natural lens, and it stays in the eye permanently. In addition to the traditional monofocal lens, we now are able to provide the option of using multifocal lenses, that allow patients to see distance as well as near vision without glasses. Patients now have a number of lens options to choose from. We will discuss this with you when planning your surgery.

Click below to view a video of Dr. Minotty performing cataract surgery and an animation of the insertion of an IOL (Intraocular Lenses), provided by Alcon Laboratories, Inc.