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CATARACT SURGERY

When is it time to have cataract surgery?

 

When cataracts are causing significant visual disturbances that affect your ability to see during necessary activities such as driving at night,  glare around headlights, and reading in lowlight, then it may be time for cataract surgery. You should not have to adjust your lifestyle due to fading vision when such an advanced procedure is available and performed by Dayton's most experienced surgeons.

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What happens during cataract surgery?

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Cataract Surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. This is an outpatient procedure performed at the Eye Laser & Surgery Center, conveniently located within our facility.  

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 Cataract surgery step-by-step :

 

  1. A small incision is made in the cornea, the clear part of the eye.  This allows tiny instruments into the eye.

  2. A tiny hole is made in the capsular membrane that surrounds the cataract.  (Think of an M&M.  The capsule is the candy coated shell, the cataract is like the chocolate on the inside.)

  3. Dr. Stahl or Dr. Knowles will carefully break up and remove the cloudy cataract. The cataract is gently broken apart by an ultrasonic instrument.  This process is called phacoemulsification.

  4. Then your doctor washes and vacuums out the broken down particles of the cataract.

  5. The new lens is folded up and inserted into the lens capsule, (the same membrane that once held the natural lens of the eye,) at which point it opens and its haptics, or “arms”, unfold to keep it in proper position. 

  6. The small corneal incision is self-healing and typically requires no stitches.  With the cataract removed, and the new lens in place, light can once again pass to the back of your eye, for clearer, more youthful vision.

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From start to finish expect to be there about 2 hours even though the procedure itself only takes about 20 minutes. 

 

 

What is recovery time like?


You will return home take a 2 hour nap and then relax for the remainder of the day after your procedure. Most patients report improvement in their vision as soon as the next day. You should be able to resume normal activities, such as working or driving, within just two to three days. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions, use your medications as prescribed and keep your follow-up visits.  An aftercare sheet with these aftercare instructions will be given to you at the surgery center.

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What are the different types of intraocular lenses implanted after cataract surgery?

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 Advanced Lifestyle Implant Lenses 

With advancements in technology there are now several options available to renew your vision and regain control of your lifestyle. Today’s cataract surgery has the potential to not only eliminate your cataracts but also allow you to regain more youthful vision—often without the dependence on glasses or contacts to see. For patients considering cataracts surgery and also wanting to see more clearly WITHOUT glasses and contacts Stahl Vision is happy to offer Advanced Lifestyle Lenses. Unlike a bifocal lens in your glasses, you don’t have to look down or tip your head back to use these implants. Much like when you were younger, vision is good at multiple distances. Advanced IOL’s will increase the out-of-pocket cost of your cataract surgery, since the cost of these advanced lens implants is not covered by Medicare or other insurance plans.

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Monofocal Aspheric Implant Lens (Standard Lens)

This lens is designed to clear blurred vision caused by the cataract and is covered by insurance. This lens has one point of focus which is typically distance, but does NOT correct for astigmatism which up to half of patients have. Most patients notice improved clarity and sharpness to vision for distance, and more vibrancy with colors. You may need glasses for distance vision, and you WILL need glasses for intermediate (desktop computer) and near (phone and books).

Strengths: Best night vision and improved sharpness, insurance covers the cost of this IOL.

Weaknesses: Does not correct astigmatism and you will require glasses or readers for reading and intermediate distances.

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Symfony®  Lens and Synergy® Multifocal Implant

The Symfony (pronounced “symphony”) and Tecnis® Synergy Implant Lenses are 4th generation bifocal implant lenses that use advanced diffractive optics work to create both distance and near focal points, helping patients to see both near and far without corrective lenses.

These are extended depth of focus lenses, the newest and first of its class. The Symfony has good distance vision, very good intermediate vision, and fair near vision. While the Synergy now also improves the near vision even more.

The Symfony lens was the first multifocal implant approved by the FDA to correct for astigmatism. It is similar to Eyhance Lens and Vivity Lens. It has been our experience that patients who choose the Symfony or Synergy lenses experience less night glare, halos and starbursts and better over all night vision than prior generation bifocal and trifocal implant lens options.

Strengths: Good distance, good intermediate and fair near, less night vision disturbance than with prior generation lenses.

Weaknesses: Some glare/halos with night driving that improves over time, may need readers for very small print.

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PanOptix® Implant Lens

Like Symfony® Lens and Tecnis® Multifocal Lens, the Acrysof PanOptix® lens uses high tech diffractive optics to create focal points at distance, intermediate and near.  The PanOptix® is a trifocal design and an improvement over the older Acrysof ReSTOR design.  In comparison to older generation designs the PanOptix® has better intermediate vision and less night vision disturbance.

The PanOptix® implant lens, like the Symfony lens and Tecnis Multifocal lenses, is FDA approved to correct for astigmatism as well.

Strengths: Good distance, good intermediate and near vision, less night vision disturbance than with prior generation lenses.

Weaknesses: Some glare/halos with night driving that improves over time, night vision in dim conditions may not be as good as with some other lens designs.

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Astigmatism

 This is where the cornea, the outer window of the eye, is curved more in one direction than the other.  The eye is shaped like a football so this causes multiple points of focus and blurry vision.

 

​Toric Plus Eyehance®/Vivity®

Some patients have a lot of astigmatism, it is something they have had their whole life. This astigmatism may have made it difficult to wear contact lenses, and difficult to correct fully correct vision with glasses. Astigmatism is where the shape of the eye is out of round, more shaped like the American football. Unless astigmatism is corrected, it makes it difficult to see at distance and near!

Fortunately, now we can correct your astigmatism with a Toric Plus Lens, or astigmatism correcting implant lens. The result is less dependence on glasses for tasks that require clear distance vision such as driving, sports, or seeing the television. Unless you choose a bifocal/multifocal implant lens you will still need inexpensive reading glasses for near, but “readers” are much less trouble and expense than having to wear bifocals.

Strengths: Good distance vision, good intermediate vision, corrects astigmatism, can wear over-the-counter readers

Weaknesses: Will need “readers” for near vision

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