Cataracts
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The clouding in the lens disrupts transmission of light through the eye. Vision may be blurred, dark, or overall "cloudy". You may also experience an increasing problem with glare or halos at night.
When it is time for treatment, you will schedule your cataract surgery with one of our surgeons. Based on your lifestyle needs, you will choose the type of implant used in your cataract surgery (see options below). During the procedure, a special device uses ultrasonic vibrations to break-up and remove the clouded lens. The implant is then placed in the eye, through a tiny incision - so small that stitches are generally not needed. You will return to our office the next day for your first post-operative exam.
Your Options
Until recently, patients were treated with a standard monofocal implant during cataract treatment. New technology is now available, offering accommodative and multi-focal implants. Medicare recently changed its' policy to allow patients to choose the type of implant used in their treatment. While Medicare covers the standard cataract surgery, patients can now choose a lifestyle lens by paying the extra fees associated with these implants out-of-pocket. To make this more affordable, we offer financing through Chase Health Advance, including interest-free plans.
To fully understand what these lifestyle lenses offer, you must have an understanding of the aging eye. In the aging eye, the lens looses its ability to change shape and images are out of focus. Reading glasses or bifocals are required to help the eye focus. This condition, which begins to affect most people in their forties, is call presbyopia. Presbyopia is the inability of your eyes to accommodate.
When choosing the traditional implant, it is important to understand that the vision is calculated to help you achieve your best distance vision. However, you will require reading glasses for reading or working on the computer. The newer lifestyle lens implants, however, are uniquely designed to help reduce your dependence on glasses.
Lifestyle Lenses Available at Hurst Eye Center