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Is It Time for Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts cause a progressive, slow, steady decline in vision. Cloudy areas spread and intensify over a period of months or years.
You may be bothered by glare from headlights and other bright sources of light, halos around bright lights when the surrounding area is dim, decreased color perception or the need for more light to see common objects. You may also experience an inability to read, an inability to drive, or an inability to do the normal things you do because your vision is getting progressively worse.
Sometimes new glasses prescriptions can help improve the vision, but it does not remove the fog and haze caused by the cataract. However, when the vision becomes blurred and hazy to the point that you are not able to perform your daily activities, it is time to discuss removing the cataract.
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The Evolution of Cataract Surgery
- The first reported surgical removal of a cataract was in 1748 in Paris. The early techniques involved removing the entire opaque lens in one piece using an incision that went halfway around the circumference of the cornea. It was critical that the lens remained intact as it was being removed, so surgery was restricted to so-called ripe lenses (cataracts so hard that they would not break into pieces as they were being removed).
- The most significant change was the introduction of phacoemulsification surgery in 1967 and is the most wildly used type of cataract surgery performed in the United States. In phaco, the surgeon makes a tiny incision on the side of the cornea, and inserts a probe through this opening. The probe emits ultrasonic waves that soften and break up the cloudy lens, which is then suctioned from the eye in small pieces.
- Originally, no lens implants were used following cataract surgery, and patients had to rely on “Coke bottle” glasses.
- Howard Ridley, a British ophthalmologist recognized that the penetration of shattered fragments from airplane windshields into the eyes of World War II fighter pilots when their planes had been hit did not always lead to damage of the eye. He created the first artificial lens from this material, leading to the creation of an entire industry.
- The evolution of smaller surgical incisions was matched by the development of new lens implants created out of different materials (such as acrylic and silicone) that could be folded to allow the lens to be inserted through a tiny wound.
- Today, Lenses are manufactured in a variety of different optical powers. Prior to surgery, patients undergo a series of measurements determining the length of their eye and the focusing power of their cornea to determine what will be the optimal intraocular lens power for them.
- Intraocular lens implants are now available that can correct myopia or hyperopia and also a variable degree of astigmatism.
- New advancements in laser technology are under development that will allow most steps of the cataract surgery procedure to be performed using a laser.
- Cataract surgery complications are few, and it is among the most common and most successful surgical procedures performed today. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, with an overall success rate of 98 percent or higher.
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About Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision.
- Most cataracts are related to aging.
- By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
- Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. Approximately 3 million Americans undergo cataract treatment through cataract surgery every year.
- A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.
What causes cataracts?
- The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.
- As we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract.
- Over time the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
- Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes.
What are the symptoms of a cataract?
- Cloudy or blurry vision.
- Colors seem faded.
- Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
- Poor night vision.
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Cataract surgery is a major life-changing event and choosing a surgeon should not be taken lightly. Two of the biggest factors impacting the success of your cataract surgery…is your surgeon’s experience and the technology. Dr. Mayo and Dr. Wade have performed thousands of successful cataract procedures, offer the latest in advanced lifestyle lens implants, specialize in bladeless cataract surgery and have a very low complication rate. Our surgeons aim to achieve the best for every patient by working with a team of experienced doctors that will carefully analyze your eye health and visual needs.
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What is Blade-Free Cataract Surgery?
Blade-free cataract surgery is a HUGE step forward from traditional cataract surgery.
In traditional cataract surgery, the surgeon uses a blade to manually make incisions in the eye. With blade-free laser cataract surgery, the surgeon creates a precise surgical plan with a sophisticated 3-D image of the eye. A bladeless, computer-controlled laser allows the surgeon to perform your surgery to exact individualized specifications, not attainable with past cataract surgery methods.
With laser cataract surgery, you can move forward with confidence knowing that you’ve chosen the most advanced technology available for this life-changing procedure, one that enables a customized cataract surgery experience.
Eye Center of Texas is proud to be one of the first practices in Texas to offer bladeless cataract surgery with the LenSx® laser. For more information about blade-free cataract surgery, please call us at 713-797-1010.
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Traditional vs Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the United States,and 3 million Americans elect to have cataract surgery each year.If a cataract is not removed and the lens replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL),the cataract can actually cause blindness.
When it comes to cataract surgery, there are many choices. Several different IOLs are available, which perform various functions. There are also 2 different methods of cataract surgery…traditional cataract surgery and laser-assisted surgery (blade free).Both methods are effective and safe, but differ in technique.
Traditional Cataract Surgery
Traditional cataract surgery is safe and extremely effective. A surgeon makes a tiny incision in the side of the cornea to remove your clouded lens. Using a process called phacoemulsification, your surgeon will insert a small probe in your eye. The device releases ultrasound waves that break up the lens so it can be suctioned out.
Using the same small incision, your surgeon will then insert the IOL into your eye. The incision is so tiny that it usually does not even require sutures, and the eye tissue seals itself. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis, takes about 15-20 minutes, and has a very quick recovery time. Most patients are back to normal activities within a day or two.
Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (Blade Free)
This procedure provides the same outcome as traditional cataract surgery but uses a different method. It utilizes a femtosecond laser to break up cataracts. Your surgeon will use special software to create a surgical plan with a 3-D image of the eye. The plan includes the location, depth, and length of the cataract in all planes. Using the unique map of your eye and the settings created in the software, the femtosecond laser will actually create the incisions and assist in the cataract removal.
Light energy from the laser causes disruption of tissue borders with minimal damage to nearby tissue. The old lens is removed, and then, the new lens is inserted. Recovery time is very similar to traditional cataract and most patients are back to normal activities in a day or two.
Which method is best for you?
When having a cataract evaluation at ECT, your doctor will talk to your about your options. Both methods have proven success rates. Bottom line, if you have a cataract you should take steps to have it removed because if it’s not removed the cataract can cause blindness.
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June is Cataract Awareness Month
How is a cataract detected?
Cataract is detected through a comprehensive cataract evaluation eye exam that may include the following tests:
- Visual Acuity: A visual acuity test measures your quality of vision at certain distances. Your doctor will ask you to read letters of various sizes from a chart. Your eyes will be tested individually and together to measure the accuracy of your eyesight at different distances. A visual acuity test is an easy, painless, and quick way to diagnosis cataracts, although more tests will be needed to make sure cataracts are the cause of your vision problems.
- Contrast Sensitivity: Contrast sensitivity testing is similar to visual acuity testing but places greater emphasis on how cataracts can decrease image contrast due to light scattering and glare caused by the cataract. Eye doctors consider contrast sensitivity testing to be a more realistic measurement of true quality of vision.
- Slit Lamp: A slit lamp is a special type of microscope that magnifies your eye so your doctor can examine the lens to determine the presence and severity of a cataract. Your doctor will ask you to place your chin on the chin rest of the slit lamp. A light will then be directed at your eye. By looking through the slit lamp, your doctor can examine the lens to determine the degree to which it is clouded.
- Pupil Dilation: Pupil dilation is a common test used in diagnosing cataracts. Clouding of the lens is not noticeable until a cataract reaches an advanced stage. When your eye is dilated, however, the pupil increases in size, offering a view of your entire lens. By thoroughly examining the lens, a doctor can determine whether or not a cataract is affecting your quality of vision.
If you have or think you have a cataract, we recommend you talk to your family optometrist or schedule a cataract evaluation with us at one of our five locations.
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Cataract Surgery
If your doctor tells you that you have a cataract and it should be removed, it may be frightening to consider. But, once you understand what a cataract is, how it will be removed, and the life-changing benefits cataract surgery can bring, you’ll likely wish you’d had the procedure sooner.
Did you know a cataract can progress until eventually there is a complete loss of vision in your eye and neither diet nor medical treatment will make a cataract go away? However, cataract surgery can help restore your vision. Our surgeons, Dr. Mark Mayo and Dr. Edward Wade offer state-of-the-art cataract procedure – performed without the need of needles, sutures or patches, offering patients a rapid, more comfortable recovery of clear vision.
Today, cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed in the U.S. and one of the most successful! At the time of surgery the cataract is removed and you will receive a lens implant that will help correct your vision. Historically, neither astigmatism nor presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) was surgically correctable, which required patients to wear glasses after cataract surgery. With today’s amazing technology, cataract patients are given the opportunity to correct the majority of their vision problems by choosing full range vision IOLs. Thousands of ECT’s cataract patients have chosen full range vision IOLs and now enjoy life without glasses!
The lens that is best suited for your vision depends on the unique characteristics of your eye and lifestyle. At Eye Center of Texas, you will not only find a multitude of surgical options to fit your needs, but a caring staff and doctors to help guide you through the process.
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Cataract Surgery Now Gives Patients GREAT Options…
The old stigma of being diagnosed with cataracts has been transformed through technology into some pretty exciting choices! Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) are lens implants that are placed in the eye after the eye’s natural crystalline lens is removed because of a cataract. At Eye Center of Texas, we offer several IOL options to meet your overall vision goals and lifestyle after cataract surgery:
Monofocal (traditional) IOLs provide a single focal point designed to provide clear distance vision. This means you will be able to see objects far away and will most likely need glasses for reading and any type of close detailed work.
Multifocal (Presbyopia-Correcting) IOL
Most people over age 50 lose their ability to read without glasses due to presbyopia. Multifocal (Premium) IOLs now make it possible to regain the close-up vision you may have had when you were younger.
Multifocal IOLs have multiple focal points, designed to replace the natural lens affected by the cataract and correct presbyopia (the ability to focus up close) in order to provide a full range of vision; near, far and in-between. The Multifocal Lens design also offers enhanced image quality.
Toric (Astigmatism-Correcting) IOL
Toric IOLs can correct astigmatism, which is a condition where the cornea is warped so light rays entering the eye cannot focus on one spot of the retina. This results in distorted, blurry or even double vision. Toric IOLs are lenses with a single focal point to provide distance vision and enhanced image quality.
Prescription Glasses
Corrective eyeglasses or contact lens can be worn following cataract surgery to correct excess astigmatism to allow for best corrected vision.
To learn more about IOL options, please feel free to contact Kathy or Steve at 713-395-1515.
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So You Have a Cataract…
Today I met Kate P. she’s 62…in great health…and has cataracts. After talking with her for awhile, she admitted her optometrist told her she had cataracts (over a year ago), but she was too scared to see a surgeon. She’s couldn’t tell me why she was scared…she said maybe because she thought the surgery would go bad and she would be blind or because she thought they would “just go away”. She realized her vision was too poor to drive at night…and she didn’t want to be forced to stay home because of her terrible night vision. So finally…today she had her cataract evaluation, talked with Dr. Mayo about her options…and booked her cataract surgery. Just before Kate left, she told me after meeting Dr. Mayo, our staff, and learning more about cataracts…she was relieved and felt she was in great hands and is looking forward to her new…clear vision.
Just in case you don’t know…
- Most cataracts are related to aging…and by age 80 more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had a cataract.
- No one knows why the eye’s lens changes as we age…they just do.
- When symptoms begin to appear, you may be able to improve your vision for a while using new glasses stronger bifocals, magnification, appropriate lighting or other visual aids, but eventually surgical intervention will be necessary to see clearly again.
- Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. In fact, it is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with more than 3 million Americans undergoing cataract surgery each year.
- While cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgeries…your outcome is highly dependent on your surgeon’s skill, volume and experience. It’s import ants to find a skilled ophthalmologist who not only has a long track record of success , but one who will also make you feel comfortable.
- Additionally, you want to find a practice that embraces both proven traditional tactics for cataract surgery, as well as the latest in technological advancements for the best results possible.
Today, cataract surgery is one of the easiest, most common, and safest surgeries performed in the United States. You should consider it as soon as vision problems start to interfere with usual activities.
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Our Locations
Houston/Bellaire
6565 W. Loop S., Suite 650Bellaire, TX 77401
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
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Fax: 713-357-7278
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Medical Office:
281-277-1010
Medical Fax:
281-277-4504
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455 E. Medical Center Blvd., Suite 110Webster, TX 77598
Medical Office:
281-332-1397
Medical Fax:
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Katy
Greenhouse Medical Plaza2051 Greenhouse Road, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77084
Medical Office:
346-547-7070
Medical Fax:
281-214-2971
The Woodlands/Conroe
100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 118Conroe, TX 77304
Medical Office:
936-647-1610
Medical Fax:
936-647-1620