Procedures

Cataract Surgery

A cataract is a common condition that causes a clouding of the eye's natural lens, affecting millions of people each year, including more than half of all Americans over the age of 65. Cloudiness develops as a result of a buildup of protein within the lens, resulting in a progressive, painless loss of vision. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in older adults.

Cataract Surgery Waterville
Cataract Vision

As we age, the lens clouds naturally, causing a gradual reduction of vision. However, cataracts are not considered part of the natural aging process and are a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Patients with cataracts often do not experience any symptoms when the condition first develops. Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience:

Blurred or hazy vision
Double vision
Poor vision in bright light
Seeing halos around lights
Poor night vision
Yellowish tinged vision
Frequent changes in eyeglasses or contact lens prescription

It is important for patients to visit their doctor on a regular basis in order to detect cataracts during their earliest stages. If suspected, your doctor may perform a series of tests in order to diagnose a cataract. A dilated eye exam will be performed to test the vision and to examine the condition of the lens and other parts of the eye.

Surgical Procedure

Cataract Surgery Waterville Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the US. This minimally invasive procedure involves removing the clouded natural lens and replacing it with a clear, artificial one. The artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL), can often be inserted through the same incision that the old lens was removed from.

During the cataract replacement procedure, the eyes are numbed with anesthesia to promote patient comfort and effectively reduce anxiety. The use of numbing drops also shortens recovery time, allowing patients to see better faster and return to their normal activities in a minimal amount of time.

An incision is then made, into which an ultrasonic probe is inserted to break up, or emulsify, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces. The pieces are then suctioned out of the eye, and the artificial replacement lens is implanted.

Once the lens has been replaced, the incision seals naturally with no need for stitches, significantly reducing patient discomfort and the risk of complications that may occur in traditional cataract surgery with stitches.

Recovery

This procedure usually takes less than an hour to perform and is painless for most patients. After the procedure, a patch may be placed over the eye and patients will be asked to rest for a while. You will be able to return home the same day, but may experience mild itching, discomfort, fluid discharge and light sensitivity for the next few days. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops to help the healing process and reduce the risk of infection.

Crystalens IOL

Crystalens IOL Waterville There are several different types of IOL lenses that can be used to replace your natural, cloudy lens during cataract surgery. These lenses restore full vision while replacing the cloudy lens. Older monofocal IOLs could only restore distance vision after cataract surgery, forcing many patients to rely on glasses or contact lenses for near and intermediate vision.

At Eye Center of Central Maine, we offer cataract patients replacement with the Crystalens IOL, which works naturally with the muscle in the eye to retain the ability to "accommodate" - shift focus between nearby and distant objects. This lens moves back and forth like the eye's natural lens to bring images and different distances into focus. Crystalens is the first FDA-approved accommodating lens and effectively treats both cataracts and presbyopia.

Risks and Complications

Although cataract surgery is considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks associated with any kind of surgery. Some of these risks may include pain, infection, swelling and bleeding. Most patients undergo this procedure without any complications.

It is important to seek prompt medical attention for cataracts, as the condition worsens over time and can lead to permanent vision loss or even blindness. Seeing your eye doctor on a regular basis can help detect cataracts as early as possible to plan an effective treatment method.

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