CATARACTS

Cataracts usually form slowly and cause few symptoms until they noticeably block light.

Symptoms can include:

• Vision that is cloudy, blurry, foggy, or filmy
• Progressive nearsightedness in older people, often called “second sight” (although distance vision is getting worse, reading glasses may no longer be needed)
• Changes in the way you see color (such as altered color perception or fading of colors)
• Problems driving at night, such as glare from oncoming headlights
• Problems with glare during the day
• Double vision
• Sudden changes in your glasses prescription

If your vision can be corrected with eyeglasses or contacts, your doctor may prescribe them. If your vision cannot be corrected and cataracts interfere with your daily life, you may need cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a relatively simple outpatient procedure with little discomfort, requiring only a few minutes and a topical anesthetic. The operation itself entails making a tiny incision in the eye, which can be done by the surgeon or by a femtosecond laser.

Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument about the size of a pen tip. This instrument tips vibrates and emulsifies the cloudy lens into tiny pieces, which are vacuumed simultaneously from the eye. Once the cataract is removed, an artificial lens, referred to as an intraocular lens (IOL), is injected through the same tiny incision, self unfolds, and then set into position to replace the natural lens. Patients return home the very same day as their surgery. The recovery period is short, requiring only daily eye drops, and an eye shield to wear only while sleeping for one week.

Refractive Cataract Surgery is an additional level of care that can improve vision beyond standard cataract surgery. Using the high-tech revolutions in today’s field of ocular microsurgery, Dr. Shuster and his team help you acquire the best vision your eyes are capable of seeing. When you decide that Refractive Cataract Surgery is right for you, we work diligently to deliver custom modification of your nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and the refractive aging changes of your eye. Dr. Shuster meticulously examines these variables to select the most optimal lens implants for each individual patient, as all eyes and patients are unique. Some lenses function to enhance solely your unaided distance vision, while others operate to allow flexibility between both near and far – and, most recently, mid-range – vision. Furthermore, specific lens implants can provide heightened resolution and definition. Each type of IOL can reduce or eliminate your need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Refractive Cataract Surgery includes:

• Assessment of your current and potential vision
• Measurement of your eye dimensions including length, curvature, retinal topography, and corneal topography
• Thorough evaluation and surgical planning, including individually tailored IOL recommendations, such as the following:
  • astigmatism reduction or elimination where applicable
  • simultaneous distance and near vision correction planning, if elected, with extended range of focus IOLs, multifocal IOLs or accommodative IOLs
• Customized surgical procedure
• Continued and seamless postoperative care and management

Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (LACS) is one of the great surgical developments in modern medicine. Cataract surgery is arguably the safest and most successful operation – and the Femtosecond Laser System serves to enhance and customize this experience. While the expertise and experience of the cataract surgeon remains the principal factor, the precision of laser-assisted cataract surgery (LACS) automates, precisely reproduces, and simplifies the most portions of the cataract microsurgical procedure. Furthermore, it reduces the complexity and provides greater accuracy with surgery to correct astigmatism.

The femtosecond laser for the cataract surgery utilizes live and continuous optical coherence tomography (OCT), yielding a digital, three-dimensional analysis of the eye and its structures. This allows for extreme accuracy in the spatial placement of incisions. In addition, the femtosecond laser softens the cataract, which decreases the amount of ultrasonic energy needed to break up and remove the lens. This laser energy in turn causes less stress to the fibers and membrane (capsule) that will hold the lens implant, contributing to improved lens positioning and centration.

During your complete cataract evaluation, Dr. Shuster will determine whether or not the use of the Femtosecond laser is right for your unique procedure.

The ORA SYSTEM is one of the technologies your doctor will use to tailor your cataract procedure to your unique eye.

Basic cataract surgery is generally a safe and common procedure that removes your cloudy lens but does not address any other visual disorders. With basic cataract surgery you will likely need spectacles (glasses) to correct distance vision AND reading vision.

Like a GPS, the ORA SYSTEM helps Dr. Shuster navigate your unique eye during surgery. This provides him with the real-time guidance he needs for an optimal result before you leave the operating room.