New Options For Cataract Surgery Could You Benefit From The Latest Advancements In Cataract Surgery?

By Renee Bovelle, MD

Envision Eye & Laser Center

. http://www.envisioneyeandlaser.com

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New Options For Cataract Surgery Could You Benefit From The Latest Advancements In Cataract Surgery?

Just a few years ago when one was diagnosed with a cataract there were not a lot of options to consider. He or she simply scheduled surgery and hoped for an eventual return to normal activities. Now, cataract patients are educated on several different surgical options and for many a return to normal lifestyle is happening faster than ever. Patients can now take advantage of the efficacy of new cataract technologies.

Approximately three million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year. A cataract is the loss of clarity or change in color of the crystalline lens. The lens, behind the colored part of your eye, acts much like the lens of a camera, sending light and images to the retina, which then transmits them to your brain. Our lenses cloud naturally as we age, gradually resulting in blurred vision and difficulty seeing at night which can hinder one's ability to perform even the simplest of daily tasks.

Your surgeon can now offer options to help combat the effects of the aging eye. Having an open dialog with your surgeon will help determine the type of cataract lens that best fits the medical and personal lifestyle needs of that particular patient as all options are not suitable for everyone. These Intraocular Lens options include

Standard Monofocal (Traditional) This is the typical cataract surgery offered by most surgeons, designed to provide crisp clear distance vision at a fixed focal point. However, most patients will most likely need glasses after surgery.

Tecnis Multifocal This type of lens uses fixed zones that are built into the optics of the lens. The overwhelming number of patients that have the ability to see all three ranges of vision without the need for glasses post-operatively. Based on patient feedback, spectacle freedom is the main reason for selecting this lens option.

These procedures may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure. No medical procedure is risk free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.