Cataract Surgery -Phacoemulsification:

Cataract by Definition

Simply put, a cataract is a "clouding" of the lens in your eye. The lens, located just behind the iris, or the colored part of your eye, works like the lens of a camera. It picks up images, then focuses the lights, colors, and shapes on the retina - the transmitter located at the back of your eye that sends the images to your brain.

A cataract is not a "film" over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement.

One of the Safest & Most Successful Procedures Performed Today

Great advances have been made in cataract surgery. Millions of people undergo this vision-improving procedure every year. And, they experience excellent results. For patients, it's a simple operation. A tiny incision is made in the eye. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument, about the size of a pen tip. The surgeon may select to use either an AquaLase® * device, which uses gentle pulses of liquid to wash away your cloudy lens, or an ultrasonic instrument that breaks up and gently removes your cloudy lens.

Instrument breaking up and removing pieces of clouded lens.

Once the clouded lens has been removed, the next step is to replace it. That is, to implant an artificial lens that will do the work of your own lens. This artificial lens is referred to as an intraocular lens or IOL.

How will it feel?

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. You'll spend just a few hours at the site. Because your eyes will be treated with anesthetic, you should feel little to no discomfort. After the surgery, you'll be given a short time to rest. Then, the very same day, you can go home. Within the next 24 hours, your doctor will probably want to see you for an evaluation. Drops will be prescribed to guard against infection and help your eyes heal. For a few days, you may need to wear a clear shield, especially at night, to prevent you from rubbing your eye.

Your Eyes & Blue Light

Blue light begins the visible range of the light spectrum. While some blue light waves contribute to color perception, other wavelengths of blue light may actually be harmful to your eye.There are many sources of blue light in your everyday environment including sunlight and artificial lighting. Researchers believe that blue light may cause damage to the retina which could potentially contribute to macular degeneration or loss of vision.² The long-term effects of filtering blue light and the clinical efficacy of that filtering on the retina have not been conclusively established. The reason you may not have heard about blue light until now is because it has not been well publicized. Recent advances in artificial lens material have just now enabled this concern to be addressed for cataract patients.

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