Cataract Surgery
Being told you have cataracts is no longer bad news. In fact, it may be the opportunity to see better than you ever have. At Vision Care of Maine, custom cataract surgery gives you the chance to see clearly at any distance, often without glasses.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. If left untreated, the lens continues to go from clear to cloudy until eventually no light can pass through the eye at all. For most people, cataracts are just another sign of aging. The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop them.
Over 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts. They develop gradually over time. The changes are subtle at first and sometimes unnoticeable. In the early stages, some vision loss can be corrected with glasses, but this is only a temporary solution.
Symptoms of Cataracts
If you notice any of these changes in your vision, you may have cataracts:
- Light sensitivity and glare. Often the earliest sign, before other visual changes.
- Loss of night vision. Especially noticeable when driving at night.
- Halos around lights. A halo effect around the moon or street lights.
- Frequent prescription changes. Needing new reading glasses more often than before.
- A yellow tint to your vision. Colors look duller or muddier than they used to.
- Double vision in one or both eyes.
These signs are most likely related to cataracts, but other eye conditions can cause similar symptoms. If you have any changes in your vision, schedule a comprehensive eye exam. If you’re over 60, we recommend an exam every year.
Cataract Self-Test
Answer these 6 questions to find out if you might benefit from a cataract evaluation. This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
1. Do you have trouble driving at night because of glare from oncoming headlights?
2. Do colors look duller or more yellow than they used to?
3. Have you had your glasses prescription changed multiple times in the last few years?
4. Do you see halos around lights, like street lamps or the moon?
5. Do bright lights bother your eyes more than they used to?
6. Has your vision changed enough to make daily activities like reading, driving, or watching TV harder?
How Cataract Surgery Works
Cataract surgery is a microsurgical procedure performed on an outpatient basis. The surgeon makes a small incision near the cornea, inserts an ultrasonic probe to break up the cataract, and removes it. Once the cloudy lens is out, the surgeon inserts an artificial lens that replaces your natural lens.
Here’s an easy way to picture it: imagine a peanut M&M. The surgeon makes a small hole in the candy shell, removes the chocolate and the peanut, then replaces the peanut with a new one.
Painless
Performed with anesthetic eye drops in most cases.
Fast
Usually takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye.
Outpatient
You’re in and out in a couple of hours.
Quick Recovery
Most patients see well the very next day.
Cataract Surgery Technology
Custom cataract surgery is performed with a precision femtosecond laser. This high-tech instrument can make incisions more accurately than a blade. It can also fragment the cataract, making it easier to remove. All of this is guided by computer measurements of your eye taken in real time.
The laser, along with special lens implants and surgical techniques, is designed to give you customized vision and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses.
Your Lens Options
Once your doctor confirms you have a cataract, you get to choose how you want to see afterward. We offer four tiers based on your lifestyle and goals.
Standard Cataract Surgery
Best for: Improving your overall vision when glasses are okay.
We safely remove your cataract and replace it with an artificial lens that restores your vision. You may still need glasses for some or all activities. If that works for you, this is the right choice.
Precision Guidance Cataract Surgery
Best for: Seeing clearly at distance, with little or no astigmatism.
The power and placement of the lens implant are measured during surgery with the ORA System after the cataract is removed. This allows for a more accurate calculation of lens power because the cloudy lens is out of the way.
Distance HD & Distance HD Plus
Best for: Clear distance vision with some or higher astigmatism.
If you want clear vision at distance and have some astigmatism, Distance HD is the right choice. We combine precise measurements with advanced surgical technology and lenses designed to focus your vision at a distance. You may still wear glasses for reading or computer work.
If you have higher amounts of astigmatism, Distance HD Plus uses a special Toric Lens implant designed specifically to correct your astigmatism.
All Clear HD Cataract Surgery
Best for: Eliminating dependence on glasses entirely.
Want to read, work on the computer, and drive without depending on glasses? All Clear HD combines precision surgery with a high-tech multifocal lens designed to let you focus close up, far away, and everywhere in between. For many patients, this provides better vision than they had before cataracts.
During your visit, our examination will help us learn which option works best for you. Once we know what will work, our surgical counselor answers your questions and helps you choose the best procedure for your lifestyle.
Cataract Surgeons
Our cataract surgeons bring extensive training and experience to every procedure.
Where We Perform Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is performed at our two ambulatory surgery centers.
Schedule a Cataract Evaluation
The first step is a cataract evaluation. Your surgeon will explain how we can best achieve your vision goals using laser-assisted cataract surgery, precision lens calculations, and customized lens implants.