Cataracts
What is a cataract?
Cataracts are a slow, natural clouding of your eye’s lens. A healthy lens works to precisely bend and focus light onto the retina to give you a clear image of objects at varying distances. As cataracts begin to cloud the lens, you may experience blurry vision, dulled colors, and glare. These symptoms make it difficult to do everyday activities like reading and driving.
When glasses are no longer enough to combat cataracts, cataract surgery is the only way to restore clear vision…and your independence.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery involves removing the old, clouded lens and putting an intraocular replacement lens (IOL) in its place to restore vision and significantly improve quality of life.
Before the use of IOLs, people had to wear very thick glasses or special contact lenses to see after cataract surgery. Today there are several types of IOLs available to take the place of the natural lens. From monofocal IOLs (vision correction for one distance) to advanced technology IOLs (vision correction for multiple distances, as well as astigmatism), your doctor will guide you toward the cataract correction option that is best for you and your lifestyle.
What is DropLess cataract surgery?
In traditional cataract surgery, the patient must use eye drops for a period of time following surgery to help the eye heal and to achieve the best possible results. DropLess cataract surgery involves administering a specifically compounded medication during surgery which may allow patients to avoid the hassles and high costs associated with post-surgery eye drops. Ask your Mississippi Eye Consultants surgeon if DropLess cataract surgery is right for you.
What are advanced technology IOLs?
If you are not satisfied with choosing a traditional monofocal IOL to restore focus at one distance—usually far vision—and wearing glasses for near vision, than advanced technology IOLs such as multifocal and toric lenses may be an option.
Multifocal lens may provide quality vision throughout the entire visual spectrum—near through far—with increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals! For this reason, they’re also called “lifestyle lens.”
Toric lenses are designed to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism to significantly improve uncorrected distance vision. In other words, toric lens provide quality distance vision, independent of glasses and contact lenses.
Mississippi Eye Consultants now offers RxSight Light Adjustable Lens®. This implant is the state-of-the-art technology is the only intraocular lens that enables ophthalmologists to customize a patient’s vision after cataract surgery. The Light Adjustable Lens by RxSight is a great choice for many patients and should be the preferred and ideal lens option for patients with minor astigmatism and patients who want the best monofocal IOL experience for distance vision.
How long does cataract surgery take?
What happens during cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery at Mississippi Eye Consultants is precise, quick, and effective. Here’s what to expect:
- Beforehand, you will be given dilating and numbing eye drops. Medication to help you relax is also available to ensure your comfort during the procedure.
- The cataract-clouded lens is gently broken up and removed.
- A pre-selected IOL is inserted to restore your optimum focus.
- DropLess treatment is administered if selected.
- After a short stay in our recovery area, you will be ready to go home!
- Most patients can resume normal activities within 1-2 days.
How long does recovery take?
Most people notice a significant improvement in their vision and are back to most normal everyday activities within 24 – 48 hours following cataract surgery.
Is cataract surgery safe?
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and is known to have very high success rates. More than 95 percent of the 3 million cataract surgeries performed in a year were done so without complications.
What kind of results can I expect?
Cataract surgery may offer more independence from glasses and contacts. Your results will depend on your personal eye health and the IOL you select to replace your natural lens.
Is cataract surgery right for me?
Is cataract surgery right for me?
Find out if you are a good candidate for laser cataract surgery. Call us to schedule a cataract consultation at Mississippi Eye Consultants—and don’t forget to take our Cataract Quiz!