A
cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. You
can think of the eye as a camera. In a camera, there is a lens which
focuses light onto the film. Similarly, in the eye there is a
clear lens that focuses light onto the retina. In a camera if you
were to smear the lens with grease and then take a picture, the picture
would come out blurry.
By the same token, if the normally crystal clear lens of the eye
becomes cloudy, the "pictures" the eye sees will also be blurry.
Below is a list of Educational Animations to help you understand cataracts. To view in Spanish, select Spanish from the Languages drop down menu.
A
cataract is most often related to aging of the eye. A family
history of cataract can be important. In addition, a history of
diabetes, eye injury or use of certain medications (most notably
steroids) can also play a role in the development of cataract.
Frequent and extensive exposure to ultraviolet light has also been
shown to hasten the development of cataracts. No specific
evidence exists that links diet and the development of cataracts.
The most common symptom of cataracts is a painless, gradual blurring of the vision. Other symptoms include glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors, frequent eyeglass prescription changes, and need to use brighter light to read.
The
rate at which a cataract grows is highly variable, even between the two
eyes of the same individual. The typical age related cataract
usually grows slowly, whereas the cataract associated with diabetes may
grow more quickly. It is impossible to predict how fast a
cataract will grow in any given person.
In
order to detect a cataract, a thorough medical examination by your
ophthalmologist is recommended. This way, the ophthalmologist can
tell if there are other reasons for the visual disturbance you may
have.
If
the cataract is causing only a mild blurring of your vision, a change
in your glasses may be all that is needed to allow you to see
better. If, however, the cataract is more advanced, correcting
your vision fully may require removal of the cataract.
What is the surgical procedure for cataract removal?
The
only way a cataract can be removed is through surgery. There are
no medications, dietary supplements, exercises, or optical devices that
have been shown to treat cataracts. Cataract
surgery is an elective procedure in most instances. This means
that the time to remove the cataract is when it interferes with your
visual needs.
If you are still able to perform all of the daily tasks
that you like and need to do, then you may not need to have the
cataracts removed. If, however, your vision is preventing you
from driving, cooking, sewing, reading, or doing anything you want to
do, and if the reason for the decreased vision is your cataract, then
surgery to remove the cataract may be indicated. Based on your
symptoms, you and your ophthalmologist should decide together when
surgery is appropriate.
Cataract
surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia on an out-patient
basis. Your ophthalmologist uses a microscope and delicate
instruments to remove the cataract. In most cases, the focusing
power of the eye is restored by placing a permanent lens implant inside
the eye. This plastic lens implant is held in place inside the eye by a
natural membrane. In approximately 20% of people, this natural
membrane will become cloudy causing a decrease in vision. When
this occurs, a laser can be used to open this cloudy membrane and
restore vision. Thus, the laser is used after the initial
cataract surgery, and only when that membrane becomes cloudy. Lasers
are not used to remove the cataract itself!
Cataract surgery is highly successful. Improved vision occurs in over 90% of
patients who have the surgery. Of course, no surgery is 100%
successful, and it is imperative that you understand that complications
can occur during or after the surgery. Some of these complications can be severe enough to limit vision. As with any surgery, a good result cannot be guaranteed. Make sure to discuss the surgery in detail with your doctor, and have all of your questions answered.
The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia on an out-patient basis using a microscope and delicate instruments to remove the cataract. In most cases, the focusing power of the eye is restored by placing a permanent lens implant inside the eye. The plastic lens implant is held in place by a natural membrane in the eye. In approximately 20% of people, this natural membrane will become cloudy, causing a decrease in vision. When this occurs, a laser can be used to open this cloudy membrane and restore vision. The laser is only used after the initial cataract surgery. Lasers are not used to remove the cataract itself.
At Matossian Eye Associates there is more than meets the eye chart...
Snellen
has been the first and last word in vision evaluation since 1862. But
recent studies make it clear that Snellen is an incomplete gauge of
functional vision. We now know that even a patient with 20/20 Snellen
acuity can have difficulty seeing clearly in low-light conditions. The
fact is, the Snellen high-contrast images and the well-lit testing
environment are very different from the real-world situations that
patients encounter every day.
Improved functional vision
The
images below compare normal functional vision vs. reduced functional
vision in patients with 20/20 visual acuity. As you can see, patients
with reduced functional vision — who may still be able to read the
letters on the chart — would be at a serious disadvantage in a
low-light driving situation.
Normal Functional Vision
Artist rendering of normal functional vision
Reduced Functional Vision Artist rendering of reduced functional vision
Patients with reduced functional vision may:
Have lack of confidence in low-light situations that involve walking, climbing stairs, or unfamiliar settings
Experience trouble reading or doing work at close range
Have difficulty driving at dusk, at night, or in the fog
Below is an Educational Animations to help you understand YAG Laser Capsulotomy.
To view in Spanish, select Spanish from the Languages drop down menu.
New Technology Cataract Implants – presbyopia correcting and wavefront advantages
Our
goal at Matossian Eye Associates (MEA) is to provide our patients with
the highest quality eye care. We insure this by keeping current with
the latest advances in ophthalmic surgical techniques. We offer some of
the newest technologies in intraocular lens implants for cataract
surgery.
The ultimate goal, for many years with cataract surgery, was to simply
restore lost vision that was created by the cataract. However today,
with new technology lens implants, cataract treatment has moved beyond
just restoring vision loss. Today's lens implants offer better
functional vision and the ability to reduce dependency on glasses for
everyday visual tasks such as reading, working on a computer, driving
at night or playing golf.
Accommodating Intraocular Lens for Cataract Surgery
MEA is pleased to offer the Crystalens® which is the first and only FDA approved accommodating intraocular lens
implant for the treatment of cataracts. This second generation
accommodating intraocular lens is unlike a standard intraocular lens
implant because it not only treats your cataract but helps with the
treatment of presbyopia (the age related inability to read up close
without reading glasses). The unique design of the Crystalens® uses the eye muscles to flex and help focus on objects at distance,
mid-range (computer distance) and up-close for reading. The Crystalens® will
reduce your dependency on glasses for most activities such as reading a
book, working on the computer, and driving a car.
Few patients with crystalens® have experienced glare, halos and night vision problems. Crystalens® focuses only one image to the back of the eye, unlike a multifocal lens
that projects multiple images that are not entirely in focus, requiring
“adjust” to the differences. In addition, Crystalens® vision is sharp and crisp because 100% of the light rays are available and distributed – when you need it.
The effectiveness of the Crystalens® was proven in clinical trials:
98.4% of patients implanted with crystalens® in both eyes could pass a driver's test without glasses
100% could see intermediate (24" to 30") without glasses, the distance for most of life's activities
98.4% could see well enough to read the newspaper and the phone book without glasses
74% of patients never or almost never wore eyeglasses
Significantly more patients implanted with a Crystalens ® (88.4%) could see better at all distances then patients implanted with a standard IOL (35.9%).
Long-term experience means a safe and effective procedure – some
patients have continued excellent vision 5 years after implantation
with the Crystalens® More than 40,000 crystalenses have been implanted worldwide
The Crystalens® Procedure
The Crystalens® procedure is simple and allows for relatively fast healing. After a
small incision is made at the edge of the cornea, the lens is liquefied
and the Crystalens®is implanted. Crystalens® can usually be implanted in about 15 minutes.
The
recovery period is usually short. Most patients are able to pursue
normal activities almost immediately after surgery. Patients usually
have a follow-up visit scheduled with the surgeon to evaluate the
patient’s recovery. Discuss with your doctor beforehand what to expect
before, during, and after the procedure in terms of eye drops and
office visits.
If you are like most patients who have the Crystalens®,
you can expect to see everything more clearly. Your focus will be
sharper than it has been in years, and you can expect to see improvements over time.
Patient Experience Video
Watch a video of a patient's experience with the Crystalens® procedure: Select a video format (your web browser must have pop-up windows enabled to view this video). Windows Media QuickTime
Each Crystalens® is polished with “polishing beads” which are individually inspected by hand and undergoes a 3-step cleaning process:
Is checked for power accuracy
Is individually inspected before packaging
Is the only premium lens available in 0.25 diopters, allowing the surgeon to make a precise match with patients needs
This means that both you and your surgeon can be assured that you have a premium quality lens.
Below is an Educational Animations to help you understand Accomodative IOL's.
To view in Spanish, select Spanish from the Languages drop down menu.
See the big picture without missing the details
There was a time when cataract surgery could only restore a patient’s distance vision. But today, thanks to the breakthrough AcrySof®ReSTOR® intraocular lens (IOL), we can help you enjoy crisp, clear, vision from near to far with little dependence on glasses.
How does the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens work?
The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is a breakthrough because it corrects cataracts with or without
presbyopia. Presbyopia is the reason many patients need reading glasses
as their eyes age. In fact, 4 out of 5 patients in the supporting
clinical study who had the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens in both eyes reported never having to wear glasses.
The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is also a breakthrough because, unlike traditional monofocal IOLs,
it’s a multifocal IOL, designed to restore your full range of vision,
from the pages of a book, to your computer screen, to scenic
landscapes. As the name implies, monofocal lenses can only give you
clear distance vision–you still need reading glasses.
Life-changing results in minutes
Whichever
IOL you choose, rest assured cataract surgery is one of the safest and
most effective procedures performed today. We simply make a tiny
incision in your eye, remove its natural clouded lens, and replace it
with a new lens. The actual surgery can take minutes and the results
are permanent and life changing. Most patients are back to their normal
activity the very next day. Your eye doctor will implant the lens in
one eye at a time.
Tecnis Multifocal:
REZOOM®Lens:
One
of the latest lens implants we offer is the REZOOM. This is a second
generation presbyopia correcting lens implant that incorporates
Balanced View Optics technology which provides multiple focal points so
The REZOOM lens has 5 proportioned visual zones designed to provide
clear vision for different distances. This translates into offering
patients a potential for full range of vision and greater independence
from glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery.
AcrySof® Toric -- The leading choice for cataracts and astigmatism.
If you have astigmatism and cataracts, we may recommend another advanced lens called the AcrySof® Toric lens. It’s the first IOL that treats preexisting astigmatism at
the same time it corrects cataracts, so you don’t have to undergo two
separate procedures.
If
less dependence on eyeglasses for distance vision is important to you,
you now have a better option. The unique design of the AcrySof® Toric lens provides significantly improved distance vision and may reduce the need of corrective lenses.
What is the AcrySof® Toric IOL?
The AcrySof® Toric lens is a foldable, single-piece lens that an eye surgeon
implants during cataract surgery to replace the clouded lens. The
unique design of the AcrySof® Toric IOL makes it possible to reduce corneal astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision.
We’re proud to offer AcrySof® lenses as part of our ongoing commitment to our patients who want the
latest advances, the best vision, and the highest quality of life.
Below are more Educational Animations to help you understand how
the Toric lens helps in the treatment of astigmatism.
To view in Spanish, select Spanish from the Languages drop down menu.
Tecnis Intraocular Lens Implant
Another new "High Tech" lens implant we offer is the TECNIS. This is the first and only lens approved by the FDA for improved functional vision in low light conditions such as night driving. This lens was designed using wavefront technology to restore safer and sharper vision after cataract surgery. In a clinical driving simulator study, the TECNIS lens implant allowed drivers to identify a pedestrian 45 feet sooner than those with a traditional lens implant.
Contrast enhancement versus traditional spherical IOLs
The
clinical trial with the night driving simulator demonstrated
significant contrast enhancement. Patients with the TECNIS™ IOL were
able to detect and identify a pedestrian hazard in low light conditions
significantly faster than with the control lens.
Whether climbing stairs, reading a menu by candlelight or even driving
at night, the contrast enhancement with this technological advance
allows the eye to function more like that of a younger person's eye,
improving functional vision in varying light conditions.
Simulated Image Contrast sensitivity with the TECNIS™ IOL was up to 31 percent higher
in bright light conditions compared to traditional lens.
Simulated Image Contrast sensitivity with the TECNIS™ IOL was up to 53 percent higher
in low light conditions compared to traditional lens.
Light
blocking intraocular lens technology
In
addition to these new lens implants, we also offer the latest in light
blocking intraocular lens technology. Light blocking is a new concept
especially in the area of ocular implants. The idea behind light
blocking is to prevent potentially harmful wavelengths of light from
damaging the retina and macula. First generation light blocking lens
implants only blocked blue light since blue light was thought to be the
most harmful. Now it appears that blue light has some beneficial
aspects which include helping with low light vision and maintaining
proper circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.
Bausch and Lomb's newest lens implant SofPort
Advanced Optics with Violet Shield technology blocks potentially
harmful violet wavelengths of the visual light spectrum without
compromising vision in low light. This implant also has an aberration
free design to provide exceptional post cataract surgery quality of
vision and enhanced contrast sensitivity.
If
you would like more information about these new lens implants or would
like to schedule a cataract evaluation please contact us at any of our
three offices listed below.
Limbal Relaxing Incisions for Astigmatism Correction Almost
everyone has a small amount of astigmatism; however for some the amount
is significant enough to create some visual problems. Astigmatism
means that the cornea (which is the clear dome over the colored portion
of the eye) is shaped more like a football instead of being round like
a basketball. This causes the light rays entering the eye to be
bent in a manner that prevents them from focusing at one point, leading
to blurred and distorted vision for both distance and near.
Limbal
relaxing incisions (LRIs) are a form of astigmatic keratotomy for the
correction of mild to moderate amount of astigmatism. The
procedure entails creating small arc incisions in the peripheral
portion of the cornea usually at the steeper parts to create a
“relaxing” or flattening effect with healing to allow the cornea to
become more round.
Limbal
relaxing incisions (LRIs) have gained widespread acceptance amongst
cataract surgeons where it is often combined with the cataract
operation. The procedure is safe and serious complications are
extremely rare. There is usually little or no,
post-operative discomfort and usually no associated glare or starbursts
which can be seen with other procedures.
Limbal Relaxing Incisions are for those:
who have astigmatism
want to minimize their dependence on glasses or contacts
have no health issues affecting their eyes
In
regard to what can be expected after the procedure, a fair amount of
patients appreciate a dramatic improvement in their vision the first
day after surgery. Since everyone heals differently some patients
may note improvement days to weeks after the procedure.
Below are Educational Animations to help you understand astigmatism and it's cause. To view in Spanish, select Spanish from the Languages drop down menu.
Click on the image to the right to download a short testto determine which distances you wish to see after surgery.
The
test is an PDF file which require a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat.
You can download a free copy of the Acrobat Reader at the Adobe site.
Click here forACROBAT.
Windows Media
QuickTime
