In today's world, cataract surgery is typically met with excitement moreso than dread. Why? Many patients have been waiting for years to be more independent from glasses and contact lenses, and the intraocular lenses (IOLs) used after cataract removal can greatly reduce their need for glasses after surgery. If you or a loved one is undergoing cataract surgery, the choices for IOL designs...

So what to do if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cataracts that are in need of removal?  Firstly, know that cataract removal is very rarely an emergency.  If you decide that you would rather wait, in most cases there is no damage caused by leaving the cataract inside your eye for months to years longer.  An example: this past...

With cataract extraction being such a quick and usually easy surgery, it is easy to forget that you just underwent a major procedure that requires close follow-up to ensure proper healing.  Your post-operative care generally begins one day after surgery, when you return to your ophthalmologist (surgeon) or co-managing optometrist and have the patch removed from your surgical eye for the first time. Here...

Surgery day; the day everyone has been anxiously waiting for!  Every cataract surgeon has their own individual protocol, so I won’t pretend to speak for exactly how your day will go.  I have been very fortunate to follow an ophthalmologist performing cataract extractions, so I have witnessed first-hand what the patient experiences.  Here are some general insights on what to expect: 1) Bring...

If you, a family member, or a loved one has made the decision to pursue cataract surgery, I’m sure there are a multitude of questions dominating your thoughts.  In the following post I will discuss the most common questions that my patients pose to me (as a referring optometrist), and hopefully I can help clarify topics that may be causing some confusion. 1)...

Cataract extraction is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States, but based on my experience in patient care, a large percentage of people are unsure of what a cataract actually is. To explore this topic further, let’s address some common misconceptions: 1) Cataracts are NOT a film over the surface of your eye.  This is a very common misconception,...

No one preparing to undergo surgery is entirely without apprehension, and for patients that are diagnosed with cataracts the decision to have them removed is sometimes a difficult choice.  A new study published in the June issue of Ophthalmology, however, delivers wonderful news concerning the safety of cataract surgery.  What was once an intimidating surgical procedure is now one of the most commonly...