Cataracts and Cataract Surgery

What is a Cataract?

Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions treated by ophthalmologists and usually occur as part of the normal aging process. Marion Eye Center’s surgeons participate in making cataract surgery one of the safest surgeries in the United States.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens. The lens is responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. When we were younger, the lens was clear, but as we age, it begins to harden and become cloudy. The cloudy lens diminishes the quality of vision.

Common symptoms of cataracts are:
• Glare around lights
• Difficulty reading fine print
• Dulling of colors
• Trouble driving at night

Causes of Cataract

The exact cause of a cataract is often unknown. Most often, a cataract is simply part of the aging process.

Certain factors may also play a role:
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Inflammation in the eye
• Hereditary issues
• Infection or events prior to birth
• Long-term steroid use
• Injury to the eye
• Previous eye surgeries
• Diseases such as diabetes
• Smoking

Treatment for Cataracts

Cataracts are treated with surgery to remove the clouded lens with ultrasound. After lens removal, a new, clear intraocular lens implant is placed. The surgery is performed through a tiny incision on the side of the cornea. After the cataract is completely removed, the surgeon replaces it with one of several types of implant lenses, which allows light to focus clearly again on the retina.

Implant Lens Choices

When planning your cataract surgery, your doctor will discuss the different intraocular lens choices available to achieve your visual goals. Our surgeons use the most advanced lens technology available, and will work with you to ensure that you receive the lens best suited to your specific needs.

Standard Monofocal Intraocular Lenses
This option includes standard cataract surgery and a single focus intraocular lens implant. These lenses will improve overall clarity. Glasses will still be needed to optimize vision.

Astigmatism Reduction
This option is designed to reduce the blurring effects of astigmatism. Patients who choose astigmatism reduction will enjoy sharper vision as a result of state-of-the-art intraocular lenses and/or surgical astigmatism reduction techniques specially designed to minimize astigmatism.

Lifestyle Vision
Your surgeon will consider your visual goals to determine whether your vision should be focused to see best up close, far away, or a blend of the two (monovision). As a further option, some patients choose a multifocal or accomodating implnat lens which offer a limited amout of ability to see both far and near after cataract surgery. This premium option is meant to achieve the greatest independence from glasses possible. The benefits and cautions to this type of implant can be discussed with your surgeon during your visit.

A better quality of vision means a better quality of life for our patients. Our history of careful, thoughtful adoption of new technologies, and unsurpassed commitment to ethical, quality care truly gives you the best opportunity to achieve your vision goals.

New Horizons Surgery Center

Our highest priority is safety in the care of our patients. In fact, eye surgery at New Horizons Surgery Center has a significantly lower incidence of eye infection and other surgical complications than the national average. Special and unique features filtered solutions – To further reduce the risk of infection, the infusion solutions used during surgery first pass through special filters before reaching the eye.Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory solutions – Specially formulated antibiotics are added to anti-inflammatory solutions and placed directly in the eye after surgery, greatly reducing the risk of postoperative infection.

Map to New Horizons Surgery Center