Tucson Cataract Surgery

A cataract, typically brought on by disease or aging, is a fogging of the lens of the eye which can cause a glare and hazy vision. Laser eye surgery has allowed many individuals to overcome the impaired vision that cataracts sometimes cause. Ophthalmologists often advise laser eye surgery when a patient suffers from severe cataracts that significantly impair a patient's sight. During the procedure, a surgeon will withdraw the cloudy lens and replace it with an IOL, which is a substitute contact lens.

Phacoemulsification is an eye surgery technique where a tiny probe is inserted into the cornea. The cataract, which has been softened by the application of ultrasound waves, is then withdrawn by way of suction. A more dated and less popular procedure, extracapsular cataract surgery, places a bigger surgical incision into the cornea so the cataract can be removed in a single piece.

Once the cataract is removed, the IOL, or intraocular lens is implanted. This lens is composed of silicone, acrylic or plastic. IOLs come in a variety of forms. Monofocal lens implants offer only one type of vision correction, typically assisting with distance vision, so many patients must continue to wear glasses to help other vision issues. Aspheric lens implants can assist those who have difficulty seeing in the dark. Toric lens implants help those who suffer from astigmatism, which is the term for blurred vision at all distances because of an irregular curve in the cornea. Many still must wear glasses for computer work or reading after receiving these implants.

Presbyopia (difficulty with near vision) correcting lens implants allow patients to see clearly at all lengths without the need for glasses following surgery. The Crystalens™ allows the lens to move and shift focus as required. ReSTOR® lenses use two kinds of light focusing and bending technologies (apodized refraction and diffraction). The outside part of the ReSTOR focuses light to help with distance vision, while the center of the lens allows the individual to focus both near and far objects by bending light. ReZoom lenses are split into different zones. Each zone is designated to assist with specified light conditions and focusing distances.

Some individuals confuse the differences between the LASIK procedure and cataract surgery. LASIK uses an excimer laser to permanently alter the shape and focusing ability of the cornea. LASIK is not used to remove cataracts, and should not be performed on patients who experience vision impairment due to cataracts. Cataract surgery is ordinarily performed on an outpatient basis and takes under 45 minutes. Many surgeons will not perform two cataract removal surgeries within the same session, so those with cataracts in both eyes will need to have two separate eye surgery procedures. Most patients experience little to no pain during treatment, and can typically resume normal activity the day following the procedure.

Eye Associates of Tucson
6130 N. LA CHOLLA BLVD #245
TUCSON, ARIZONA 85741
(520) 888-6600
5240 E. KNIGHT DR. #104
TUCSON, ARIZONA 85712
(520) 795-4202