Cataract Surgery

About Cataracts

A cataract is the natural clouding of the lens in the eye that blocks the path of light and makes vision blurry or hazy. Cataracts usually begin to form after age 50 and get gradually worse with time. 

Symptoms may include:

  • Blurred vision

  • “Halo” effect or streaking around lights

  • Difficulty with night vision

  • Fading or dull colors

Should I have Surgery?

Early on, the symptoms of a cataract may be minimal or may be overcome with glasses or contacts. However, as the cataract continues to grow, it may interfere with daily tasks such as reading and driving. At this point, it is reasonable to discuss cataract surgery with your doctor. 

Cataract Surgery

  • In cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens implant to improve your vision. See below for more information about the lens implants and other technologies that we use. Each eye is operated on separately, typically a few weeks apart. While cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed and safest surgeries in the world, real and potential complications do exist with any surgery and cataract surgery is no exception.

  • Determining if cataract surgery is right for you requires a complete evaluation in the office, including a refraction, a dilated eye exam and additional testing. At the end of the evaluation, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of surgery. If you and your doctor decide to proceed with surgery, you will talk with our surgical coordinator to discuss scheduling and other instructions prior to surgery.

  • We operate at Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley and Eye MD Laser and Surgery Center in Oakland. You can expect to be at the surgery center for several hours. You will need a driver on the day of surgery and for your appointment the following day. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home the same day.

  • Immediately after surgery, the eye will feel irritated, and the vision may be blurred. With proper rest, avoidance of strenuous activities and use of prescribed eye drops, recovery is usually a matter of days, but may take several weeks. You will be examined in the office the day after surgery and a few weeks after surgery, sometimes more often to ensure proper healing. A new glasses prescription is typically prescribed a few weeks after surgery.

Standard Cataract Surgery

lens implant on finger

In conventional cataract surgery, we use the most advanced non-laser approaches to make small incisions in the eye, remove the cataract with ultrasound and insert a clear lens implant.

  • The Standard Lens, also called a monofocal lens, focuses your best vision at one distance. Glasses are required for other distances and for astigmatism.

  • Monovision, in which one eye is focused for distance and the other eye for middle or near range, may also be an option to decrease your need for glasses.

Laser-assisted Surgery

LensX Laser System
 

In Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery, the LenSx® femtosecond laser system is used to make incisions, soften the cataract for removal and correct mild levels of astigmatism.

Premium Lens Options

  • The Toric Lens corrects moderate to high levels of astigmatism and is available in single focus or multifocal options.

  • The PanOptix® Lens, a type of multifocal or presbyopia-correcting lens, has the widest range of focusing power. However visual distortions such as halos are more common.

  • The Light Adjustable Lens™ is implanted using the same surgical techniques. After surgery, you return to the office for 3-6 light treatments to adjust the lens to the desired power and to correct astigmatism.