Your eye has a clear lens, just like a camera. Age, injury, or other factors can cause this lens to become clouded, into what is known as a cataract. Normally, a clear lens provides clear vision. A cataract lens blurs, dims, discolors, and clouds one’s vision. Surgery removes this cataract, and replaces it with a small, clear plastic lens.

With a clear normal lens, the images are focused clearly on the retina. Vision is clear. With a cataract, the lens is cloudy, causing the image to become blurred and yellowed. Vision is hazy and colors become faded.

Types of Cataracts

There are many types of cataracts. As cataracts can develop slowly over a long period of time, significant decreased vision may not be noticed. In some, only part of the lens is affected, and yet, this can cause a great loss in the quality of vision. The replacement intraocular lenses are technically refined and versatile.

Treatment Overview

For most cases, a small incision is made in the front part of the eye, and the cataract lens is removed using a special ultrasonic probe. The bag holding the lens is left intact. The new lens is emplaced in this bag. Sometimes, following cataract surgery, the lens bag can develop opacities behind the implanted lens, called a secondary cataract. Laser treatment at a later date creates a hole in the bag to restore clear vision.

Cataract Surgery

The surgery begins with a very small incision, in the white sclera of the eye, or near the edge of the clear cornea. A special protective viscoelastic material, or air, is placed inside the eye. The lens bag is opened on top. Fluid is used to separate the lens from its outer bag - this is called hydrodissection. Next, a special ultrasonic probe is used,

to break up and remove the lens - this is called phacoemulsification. The natural lens bag is left intact. It is polished and cleaned, using irrigation and aspiration. In most cases, the folded intraocular lens is placed through the small incision, where it is unfolded into the lens bag.

This modern approach usually requires no suture for the very small incision, and the surgery is complete. The computerized cataract ultrasonic system provides total surgeon control of both intraocular pressure and cataract extraction. Other techniques may be used in special cases.

The Result

Before cataract surgery, the lens is cloudy, causing images to be blurred and yellowed. Vision is hazy and colors are faded. After surgery, the new replacement lens provides a clear and focused image on the retina. Vision is clear.

Summary

Cataracts mostly affect people over 60 years of age, but they can occur at any age. Most cataract surgeries are an out-patient procedure, taking just a few minutes, returning to most daily activities within a couple of days. Cataract Surgery, as with all surgeries, does contain an element of risk which must be fully considered and discussed with your Doctor.

In the past, patients with corneal astigmatism experienced blurred and distorted vision after cataract surgery because a traditional replacement lens could not correct this condition.

Now patients have another option…a toric replacement lens implant that corrects astigmatism and cataracts at the same time. This premium lens is designed to provide quality distance vision with reduced dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. (Reading glasses may still be needed if you choose to have your astigmatism corrected with a “toric” lens.)

Until recently, life without reading glasses or bifocals was not an option for most cataract patients. You now have an option - the AcrySof® ReSTOR® Intraocular lens (IOL).

How does the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL work?

As we perform daily activities such as reading, watching television or working at the computer, our eyes are constantly focusing on objects at varying distances – up close, far away and everything in-between. The ability to quickly change focus throughout this range of vision is called accommodation

Unfortunately, this ability diminishes as we grow older, causing us to become dependent on bifocals or reading glasses. However, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL was designed to provide quality near to distance vision by combining the strengths of apodized diffractive and refractive technologies. Similar technology has been used for years in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality, and has now been patented for use in intraocular lenses by Alcon.

Apodized Diffractive

Apodization is the gradual tapering of the diffractive steps from the center to the outside edge of a lens to create a smooth transition of light between the distance, intermediate and near focal points. Diffraction involves the bending or spreading of light to multiple focal points as it passes through the lens. On the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, the center of the lens surface consists of an apodized diffractive optic. This means that the series of tiny steps in that center area work together to focus light for near through distance vision.

Refractive

The refractive region of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL bends light as it passes through the lens to a focal point on the retina. This outer ring of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL surrounds the apodized diffractive region and is dedicated to focusing light for distance vision.

The Results

Incredible range of vision

For most patients, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL delivers excellent near and distance vision, and good intermediate vision without reading glasses or bifocals. In fact, with this increase in vision quality, AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL patients would be able to pass the visual acuity portion of the driver's license exam in most states.

The ability to read quickly and easily

In an independently conducted study, AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL patients were tested to see how easily they could read paragraphs of decreasing font size, and their results were compared to patients with other IOLs. While only one of 13 patients with other IOLs could read small type (such as the newspaper), four of five AcrySof® ReSTOR® patients were still able to read small type quickly and easily.

Better vision for various lighting situations

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL delivers quality vision for various lighting situations. In brightly lit conditions, the central apodized diffractive portion of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL sends light waves simultaneously to both near and distant focal points, while, in dimly lit conditions, the surrounding refractive area sends greater energy to distance vision.

Unlike traditional cataract procedures which involve the use of a tiny handheld blade to make incisions in the eye, laser-assisted cataract surgery uses a highly precise, computer-guided laser. This modern technique also involves accurate mapping of the eye, making it possible to perform a more customizable procedure and the potential to enhance visual results.

Our experienced cataract surgeons Drs. Wayne Barber and Robert Friedman were the first to bring laser cataract surgery to Carroll County.

Talk to your eye doctor to determine if laser-assisted cataract surgery is right for you.