What Is Cataract Surgery? Everything You Need To Know

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgical procedures worldwide. As a board-certified cataract and refractive surgeon at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers of Texas, I’m committed to prioritizing my patients’ care, safety, and comfort and delivering high-quality outcomes. This brief guide details what to expect with cataract surgery at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataracts are a progressive, age-related medical condition that occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to impaired vision. Cataract surgery involves removing and replacing this cloudy lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision specific to each patient’s prescription. Eye surgeons typically recommend this procedure when cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities such as reading, driving, or recognizing faces.

Your First Step Toward Cataract Surgery

If you’re considering cataract surgery, then it’s possible you’ve been experiencing cataract symptoms for quite some time, and they are beginning to negatively impact your quality of life and eye health. Your first step is to schedule a cataract consultation with our eye doctors, during which our expert team will perform a comprehensive eye exam (including eye dilation), take measurements of your eye using the most advanced technology, and review and select the IOL options that best meets your lifestyle and vision goals.

Prior to your consultation, we may ask you to refrain from wearing contact lenses so we can accurately measure the corneal curvature, which is called keratometry. Contact lenses can often change the shape of the front part of the eye, called the cornea, and depending on the type and rigidity of the lens, it can take a few days or even several weeks for the cornea to return to its natural shape.

To prepare for your consultation, please bring information regarding your medical history, current list of medications, previous surgical history, and any visual complaints that are interfering with your daily activities.  We recommend you consider arranging transportation to and from your appointment, as eye dilation can make driving difficult for some patients.

What To Expect During Cataract Surgery

Before surgery, our counselors and nursing staff will provide important pre-surgical information regarding fasting and any medications that may be taken prior to or immediately after your surgery. On the day of your outpatient cataract surgery, you’ll arrive at our office approximately one to two hours before your procedure. Due to the use of anesthesia during the procedure, you will be unable to drive after surgery, so arranging transportation to and from the office is imperative. On average, the surgical time will be between 10-15 minutes, followed by 15-20 minutes in the post-operative recovery area.

Importantly, most people experience very little to no pain during cataract surgery. We administer topical anesthetic eye drops to ensure that your eye is numb before beginning the surgery.

There are two primary methods of cataract surgery: traditional cataract surgery and laser-assisted cataract surgery. Both methods have the same goal, are safe and effective, and generally take 20 minutes or less, but they differ in the tools and techniques used. Insurance coverage, including Medicare, can also vary depending on plan type and benefits.

Traditional Cataract Surgery

Traditional cataract surgery is also called small incision cataract surgery. In this surgery method, we make a microscopic incision in the cornea, approximately two to three millimeters, using a small, specially bladed instrument. Then, we use the phacoemulsification technique, which utilizes ultrasound energy, to break up the clouded lens into small, easily removable pieces.  After the cataract is removed, an irrigation device is used to remove any residual components and flush the interior of the eye to prepare for the new IOL.  Then, we insert the IOL through the same incision and position it into the lens capsule where the natural lens originally was. After placing the IOL, we use the ORA System™, an elective advanced technology that can be added to your cataract surgery package, to refine the results and provide the most optimal outcome. This system uses an intraoperative wavefront aberrometer to determine how light is passing through your eye and how the eye is focusing, which allows us to make microscopic, real-time adjustments.

Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

Laser-assisted cataract surgery is similar to traditional cataract surgery but can offer more precise incisions and IOL placement and ensure a customized experience. We place a device over your eye that maps its surface and transmits the information to a computer. This information helps program the laser with the incision’s exact location, size, and depth. Then, we use a femtosecond laser to make the corneal incision and use the laser’s energy, rather than ultrasound energy, to break up the cataract, which ensures more precise energy delivery during the surgery. Lens fragmentation with the laser-assisted system is often 30 seconds or less. At Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers of Texas, we use the most advanced laser technology with the LenSx^® Laser, which improves precision, increases efficiency, and can decrease the risk involved with more dense or traumatic cataracts. We can refine your results with the ORA System™ if you’ve opted to use this technology.

Recovery After Your Cataract Surgery

After the surgery, we will transport you from the operating room to our post-operative team to rest in a designated recovery area for approximately 30 minutes. Due to the sedative, it’s common to feel groggy immediately after cataract surgery and to experience some blurred vision due to the dilation and lighting during the surgery.

Temporary side effects, such as light sensitivity, blurred vision, bloodshot eyes, or a scratchy sensation in your eyes, are common and should subside within the following days. Topical eye drops will be prescribed for the days after your surgery; taking these as directed and following all post-surgical instructions is essential to avoid infections and promote healing. Protective eyewear will be provided immediately postoperatively, as well as a protective clear shield to wear during sleep for approximately one week.

Although many patients report experiencing clearer vision just several hours after the surgery, others may require more time due to the density of the cataract, the individual’s overall health, or to allow additional time for their eyes to adjust to the new lens. We will schedule a post-operative visit the following day to ensure healing is advancing as expected and there are no complications. Avoid hot tubs, heavy lifting, and strenuous activities in the week following your surgery.

Recovery time is different for each person. Generally, full recovery from cataract surgery takes approximately four weeks. If you have cataracts in both eyes, we will most often perform the second cataract surgery one to three weeks later.

Artificial IOLs That Support Your Desired Vision Outcomes

At Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers of Texas, we offer various IOL options, including premium lifestyle and toric lenses. Costs and insurance coverage vary.

• Monofocal, or regular, IOLs: These are the most common artificial lenses and correct for a set single distance, typically long distance. With this selection, reading glasses are required for clear close-up vision. Medical insurance generally covers monofocal lenses.
• Toric IOLs: Toric lenses can be used to provide better distance correction and focusing for individuals with certain levels of astigmatism.
• Lifestyle IOLs: Lifestyle lenses incorporate different emergent technologies to help allow for near, intermediate, and distance correction. Because of slight differences in the latest technology lifestyle lenses, consultation with one of our surgeons can help guide patients through this process.

Contact Dallas’ Cataract Experts

With over 40 years of experience, our team of board-certified ophthalmologists at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers of Texas is highly trained and expertly skilled in using the latest cataract surgical equipment and technology, including advanced cataract lens implants, laser-assisted cataract procedures with femtosecond lasers, and ORA testing to ensure patient safety, comfort, and high-quality results. Contact our office today to request your free cataract surgery consultation; we look forward to serving you.

About Dr. Frasier

https://keeyecenters.com/icon-doctors/kelly-frasier-m-d/

Kelly J. Frasier, MD, joined the surgical team at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers in October 2014. He shares Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers’ passion for enhancing patients’ vision and providing exceptional care by staying on top of the latest technological advances in ophthalmology.

A native of Odessa, Texas, Dr. Frasier graduated from West Texas A&M University and went on to earn his Medical Degree from the UT School of Medicine at San Antonio. He completed his internship at Texas Tech, where he was a member of the AOA Honor Society. Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Frasier is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Texas Medical Association, and the Tarrant County Medical Association.