What Should I Expect?
The unknown can be scary. That’s why the experts at the Advanced Cataract Center have compiled a list of what to expect, as well as frequently asked questions. Still unsure if cataract surgery is right for you?
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What to Expect on the Day of Advanced or Traditional Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is an outpatient experience. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Topical or local anesthesia is used with a mild sedative to prepare you for surgery.
The surgery is not painful. Patients may note a pressure sensation and a “light show” during the procedure. The natural lens is broken up using ultrasound into minute particles and removed from the eye.
Typically, no sutures are needed as the incision is small and usually self-seals. Surgery is done one eye at a time, but the fellow eye may be scheduled as early as 1-2 weeks later.
Post-Operative Cataract Surgery Care and Recovery
There are minimal restrictions, even immediately after surgery. You will be using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops for a few weeks to aid in the healing process. Standard post-op visits are 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year.
Patients are required to have a driver take them home after surgery and drive them to their one day post-op visit. The following morning we will see you for a quick one day, post-operative visit with our team of doctors, and answer any questions you may have. Patients can usually return to work after the first post-op visit.
Cataract Surgery FAQs
Sure, cataract surgery might be one of the most-performed surgeries in the world, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have concerns. We’ve compiled an extensive list of helpful answers to our most common cataract questions. If you’re a bit nervous about the prospect of lens surgery, you’ll likely find these answers reassuring. If you’re already feeling cool and collected, well, a little confidence boost can’t hurt.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. If there is a cloud outside and we can’t see well, we call it fog. If there is a cloud in your lens and you can’t see well, we call it a cataract.
Does everyone get cataracts?
There is a clear lens inside each person’s eye that slowly changes from clear to cloudy over the course of their life. The lens inside the eye is the clearest it will ever be before you are 10 years old. For each birthday after that, it gets a little more dense, a little less clear, and lets a little less quality light in than it did the previous year. When you are no longer able to see as well as you need to, that lens which has been changing for decades, graduates to being called a cataract. It happens to us all.
When should I have my cataract removed?
The answer to that is simple. You should have your cataract removed when you are no longer able to do things that you want to do because of your vision. This time comes for different people in different ways. Some can’t stand having poor night vision and want cataract surgery as soon as possible to fix it, others will be fine with much blurrier vision and wait until they cannot read well even with glasses. Neither of those cataracts will be more difficult to remove.
Can cataracts be fixed without surgery?
While medical research scientist are working on medicines that may help slow the changing of the lens, there is currently no medical way to prevent cataracts. It follows that there is no way to fix them without surgery either.
What’s the difference between refractive cataract surgery and standard cataract surgery?
It basically comes down to how much you care about wearing glasses after surgery. There is no difference in safety between the two. If you don’t mind wearing readers or bifocals after cataract surgery, there is no reason to get refractive cataract surgery. If you want to be able to read a newspaper, search the web on your computer, or see which bottle is shampoo in the shower without glasses, then refractive cataract surgery is a better choice for you.
Is cataract surgery painful?
No. You may have an option of IV sedation at the surgery center. The drop that numbs your eye may ‘sting’ a bit, and at times you may feel a sense of pressure.
What about a multifocal IOL? I’ve heard about “premium” IOLs and that seems like it may be the best option.
Maybe! Multifocal IOLs are amazing for those who are excellent candidates for them. But remember, these are your eyes, and we can determine what may be the best ‘fit’ and what is uniquely best for you. That’s the big idea behind the advanced imaging and time with your surgeon: together, we can figure out what will give you the best vision for near and distance based on your specific lifestyle needs.
Can I avoid having glasses or contacts after cataract surgery?
The answer to this question used to be, ‘there is no way to avoid glasses after cataract surgery.’ Many people needed glasses for distance vision, and virtually everyone required glasses for computer and reading vision. Special lenses called Premium IOLs have now become available that can correct astigmatism, allow people to see well in the distance without glasses, and even correct near vision without the need for reading glasses. These special diagnostics and/or IOLs are not covered by insurance, but can be easily substituted in place of a basic IOL because the surgical procedure is nearly identical to traditional cataract surgery.
What is the new IOL made of?
Every cataract surgery involves placing an IOL where the old, cloudy lens once sat. The new artificial lens is made out of acrylic the vast majority of the time. This inert material has been used in eyes for over half a century and hasn’t caused allergic reactions inside the eye in tens of millions of cases, so it has a pretty impressive safety record to ease your mind.
What happens if I don’t have my cataracts removed?
Your vision will slowly get worse over time. While it is very rare for cataracts to become a danger to your health (as untreated diabetes or hypertension would), they always make your vision worse instead of better. If left long enough, hyper mature cataracts (a very severe form) can reduce the vision down to the point where a person is only able to tell if there is a light shining in their eye or not.
Is cataract surgery safe?
Yes. Since it is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world, the safety and efficacy of modern cataract surgery has had a lot of time to be perfected to its current level. While any surgery has inherent risks and possible complications, they are thankfully either quite minor or quite rare. We can go over specific possible complications with each patient to clarify any questions relating to their particular case.
Does insurance cover cataract surgery?
Yes. If someone has cataracts that are decreasing their quality of life, then insurance will pay for cataract surgery. Insurance will pay to get the cloudy lens out of the eye, and replace it with a clear lens (called an intra-ocular lens, or IOL). After that, a patient will still need glasses to correct refractive error — that is, for reading and computer vision, and possibly distance vision — but the view will be “clear” again. Many patients now have the option to choose lenses that will allow freedom from glasses not possible with basic IOLs, but currently, insurance will only pay for the most basic IOL.
Can I correct astigmatism with cataract surgery?
Yes. Astigmatism can be corrected with either a special procedure performed during the cataract surgery, a special IOL placed in the eye after the cataract is removed, or by LASIK after the procedure.
How long is the recovery from cataract surgery?
People are usually back to their regular activities the next day. We ask that people hold off on lifting things heavier than a gallon of milk and avoid swimming for a week. While there are a few limited restrictions like this, cataract surgery has a pretty effortless recovery compared to most other events with the word ‘surgery’ in them.
Can cataracts come back after surgery?
No. When they are gone, they’re gone. About 50% of patients will benefit from a one-time, 60-second, painless laser procedure at some point after the surgery if the capsule holding the new IOL gets cloudy (this is also covered by insurance). Outside of that, the vision will generally stay stable or even improve over the long term as long as the rest of the eye stays healthy.
Cataract Insurance Information and Payment Options
Insurance will cover standard cataract surgery and a basic monofocal intra ocular lens (IOL). We now have the option to choose lenses that will allow freedom from glasses not possible with basic IOLs, but currently, insurance will only pay for the most basic IOL.
Let’s face it: most of us don’t like to talk about money. However, none of us are immune to the reality of the effect of the dollar on our lives. We invest where we can and we generally spend our money on the things that mean the most to us.
What’s Your Vision Worth?
When it comes to our eyes and our health we all want the very best available. We know that vision correction or medical help with our eyes is not inexpensive, but we also know that its value is incredibly high. Your vision is used every moment that you are awake. A new car or truck is used for approximately 2 to 3 hours a day and is worth half of what you paid for it in 5 years.
Value vs. Cost
We see people every day investing in themselves by getting vision correction at Visionary Eye Doctors. Though the cost of procedures can vary depending on which one is right for you, we know that value matters more than cost. In other words, how much you get for what you spent matters more than what you spent. We aim to give you far more for what you spend at Visionary Eye Doctors than the cost of your surgery. It’s why we spend so much in technology and people to care for you.
Payment Plans
We have payment plans available that make Advanced Cataract Surgery and other vision correction surgeries affordable for almost everyone. We understand that you may be on a budget and it can be tough to come up with a “chunk” of money rather than paying overtime in bite-sized bits. That’s why we offer the following options to our patients. We want to make this as easy as possible for you because we know what a gift it is for so many people to be glasses independent!
CareCredit is a credit card for your health and beauty needs that lets you enjoy the benefits of living well today, with special healthcare financing options so you can pay monthly.
Request a Surgical Consultation
The first step in determining your candidacy for any procedure is to schedule a consultation and experience our comprehensive eye exam. This is the most complete eye exam available today and includes a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons. Utilizing advanced diagnostic technology, our surgeons will not only evaluate your candidacy for a procedure for but will look at the overall health of your eyes and establish a long term plan for your best vision.
Please help us provide you with the best experience by answering a few quick questions, and one of our surgical counselors will assist you. If you are a current patient and/or have a medical concern or question, please contact us directly at 301-896-0890.