Many people have the misconception that Lasers are commonly used for Cataract removal. Cataracts, typically, are actually removed with ultra-sound waves as described above, not with Laser light. However, a small percentage of people develop a condition in the months or years after Cataract surgery where a thin film of Scar tissue forms behind the implanted lens and causes the vision to be blurred. Often these patients will feel that their Cataract has returned or "grown back." However rest assured that once the Cataract has been removed, it is not possible for it to recur. In these cases, an opening can be quickly and absolutely painlessly made in the Scar tissue with a Laser, without disturbing the lens implant or any other tissues within the eye. With light able to once again Focus on the Retina, Clear vision is thereby restored. Some people hearing of this might incorrectly think that it is some form of a Cataract that is being removed with the Laser.

As the field of ophthalmology advances, researchers are exploring many ways in which
Cataracts can safely and easily be removed. Interestingly enough, much of the research
revolves around the use certain Lasers to break apart a Cataract. While the commonplace of these techniques are certainly in the future, if at all, current Cataract surgery achieves equal and life-changing results today.

Cataract surgery affords an almost miraculous restoration of Clear vision. It is one of the few medical procedures that can literally turn back the hands of time. In fact, many patients achieve vision comparable to the eyesight they enjoyed in their youth. Some of the benefits include the following:

• Improved Color Vision - Once the Cataract is removed, colors are no longer tinged by its effect. Colors will be much more vivid and Vibrant after surgery.
• Improved Clarity of Vision - Visual acuity is usually improved. Reading and watching television can be enjoyed thanks to sharper, clearer vision.
• Increased Independence - Following Cataract surgery, many patients eyesight is improved to the point that they can regain their driver's license.
• Improved Quality of Life - Improved vision leads to renewed interest and participation in the fun things in life. Hobbies, work, and enjoying the company of friends comes easier when vision is improved.
• Reduced Dependence Upon Corrective Eyewear - The lens implant used during Cataract surgery may be able to compensate for pre-existing focusing problems such as Nearsightedness or Farsightedness. Glasses may be needed for some activities, such as reading or driving. When glasses are required all the time, the lenses are often able to be much thinner, making the spectacles lighter and more attractive.

This is one of the most common successful surgeries. How much improvement is achieved is dependent upon the initial health of the eye, as certain diseases of the retina can limit the final visual result. The Ophthalmic surgeon will discuss this prior to any scheduling of surgery.

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with Cataract surgery, and complications (such as Bleeding, Infection, Corneal decompensation, Macular swelling, and Retinal detachment) can occur during or after surgery in spite of the best care. It is impossible to predict in which patients these complications will occur. Fortunately, the risk of these complications is quite low.

In the not so distant past, Cataract surgery used to involve making a large incision to remove the cloudy lens, and patients were often brought into the hospital overnight or for several days. Now advanced surgical techniques and modern lens replacement make "same day Cataract surgery" possible. You can have your Cataract removed on an outpatient basis at a nearby hospital and go home the same day!

Today, Cataract surgery is among the most highly perfected, safe, and successful procedures in all of medicine. Over one million Cataract operations are performed in this country every year. The surgery is most often performed with monitored anesthetic care with appropriate sedation given as necessary and thus does not carry the risks of general anesthesia. It is painless and usually takes less than an hour.

A sophisticated Micro-surgical technique, called Phacoemulsification, is used to remove the Cataract through a small incision. Phacoemulsification is an Ultrasound technique which allows the doctor to remove the clouded lens in small fragments, instead of whole. This technique permits the smallest possible incision and the shortest recovery period. In the hands of an experienced Cataract surgeon, Phacoemulsification also reduces the incidence of complications and produces the best possible visual results. Once the Cataract has been removed, a new clear implant lens is folded, inserted through the small incision, and allowed to open up in the same "bag" that used to hold your own lens in place. In some cases, an implant lens may not be implanted, or a different type of lens implant may be placed outside of the "bag" if your surgeon feels this is best for your eye. Fine-tuning the patient's vision is performed with the appropriate choice of intraocular lens implant power having been chosen earlier. Usually, the incision is so small that it is able to heal rapidly, leaving no visible scar and eliminating the need for sutures.

Sutureless or "No-Stitch" Cataract surgery is the most recent advance in Cataract surgery. Sutureless surgery is made possible by a revolutionary new way of constructing the small Phacoemulsification incision. This new type of incision is self-sealing and requires no sutures. Yet it is even stronger and heals faster than earlier types of incision, and with even fewer complications. With no-Stitch surgery, Cataract surgery patients are usually able to resume all normal activities within 24 hours after surgery. No-Stitch or small Incision surgery, combined with the latest small Incision intraocular lenses, offers the Cataract patient the best possible vision in the shortest possible time.

Different people have different visual needs. If you are visually limited from performing your daily activities from Cataracts, then you may be a candidate for Cataract surgery. One does not have to wait until the Cataract is "Ripe", unless you choose to. Leaving a Cataract in the eye is not dangerous except for rare situations. Cataracts in general do not harm the eye. In most cases, surgery can be postponed for as long as the patient desires or not done at all.

The only side-effect would be the blurred and progressively worsening vision due to the Cataract. With time Cataracts do increase in size and hardness, and if the Cataract is very advanced, the surgery can be slightly more difficult to perform. However even in these situations the result is usually very good.

The surgical procedure that seeks to restore your vision involves removing the Cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Cataracts can be removed at any stage of their development, but again, the decision is yours alone. With modern microsurgical techniques, age or physical condition are seldom obstacles. The timing depends on how much your Cataract limits your vision. When your vision becomes impaired enough to interfere with normal activities such as driving, reading or watching TV, then surgery may be advisable.