Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process inside the eye. Cataracts are a clouding of your eye’s natural lens, which makes your vision blurry.
Eventually, cataracts can cause significant impairment to your vision. However, you don’t need to wait until you are blind to deal with cataracts.
Cataract surgery is the most effective way to get rid of cataracts forever. The procedure is fast, and the results are predictable.
In fact, it is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of cataracts!
How Does Cataract Surgery Work?
You cannot remove a cataract from the lens. The cataract is essentially part of the lens when it forms.
In order to restore vision, the lens of the eye has to be removed and replaced with a new, clear one. The lens is round and flexible bit and lies just behind the pupil.
It focuses the light that enters the eye, making vision clear and defined. Before a cataract forms, the flexible lens can bend and move around to change the focus using tiny muscles.
However, the lens becomes cloudy and hardened once a cataract develops, making vision blurry. To remove the lens, your cataract surgeon creates an opening in the clear tissue at the front of your eye, called the cornea.
Then, the cataract surgeon can break apart the lens using a special instrument and remove the pieces with a small vacuum. With the lens removed, so is the cataract.
Your eye needs a lens in order to see, so they will replace your old, cloudy lens with a new lens called an IOL or intraocular lens. An IOL is made of synthetic materials.
Standard IOLs will provide improved vision at one distance, while premium options can closely replicate a natural lens’s abilities. In some cases, a person’s vision ends up better than it has ever been!
What Are My IOL Options at Stahl Eyecare Experts?
Before your cataract surgery, you and your cataract surgeon will figure out what kind of IOL best fits your vision goals. At Stahl Eyecare Experts, our cataract surgeons offer a wide variety of IOL options.
Many people choose standard monofocal IOLs since these are often covered under insurance. If you choose to get a monofocal IOL, you will still need to use glasses for certain activities.
Most people prefer premium IOLs, as they can reduce your dependence on contact lenses and glasses. Although they provide a great benefit, premium IOLs often require an out-of-pocket cost.
Premium IOLs come in many forms. Multifocal IOLs allow the eye to focus at multiple distances.
They work just like other kinds of progressive lenses, using different focused zones in the device itself. Stahl Eyecare Experts offers a variety of multifocal implants, including the TECNIS Symfony, the ReSTOR, and the Crystalens Multifocal Implant.
Trifocal options include the Alcon PanOptix Implant and the Alcon Acrysof IQ Vivity. If you have a certain amount of astigmatism, you may need a toric IOL.
What Happens After Cataract Surgery?
Once the surgery is complete, you will be on your way to recovery. Although it can take a few days or weeks for your vision to reach its full potential, some people notice an improvement in their vision right away.
You will need to come back a few times throughout recovery so the doctor can make sure your eyes are healing properly and avoid any complications.
Do you want to learn more about cataract surgery or determine which lens may be right for you? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today!
