Cataract Surgery Specialist

What is cataract surgery like? 

Dr. Negrey uses a state-of-the-art procedure, phacoemulsification, for cataract removal. You receive local anesthesia to completely numb the eye. 

You won't feel anything during the surgery, and many patients doze during the 15- to 20-minute procedure. Some patients see vibrant colors during cataract removal. 

Dr. Negrey makes a tiny corneal incision and uses a small ultrasound probe to break up the hard cataract. He flushes the pieces of the old lens out of your eye and then replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL). 

What types of IOLs are available? 

Some of the different options include: 

Monofocal lens

A monofocal lens has one prescription to replace single-prescription glasses. But most adults have presbyopia, a problem with focusing on close-up items that requires reading glasses. 

If you use reading glasses and choose a monofocal lens for distance vision, you'll still need reading glasses afterward.

Multifocal

A multifocal IOL is much like bifocal glasses: It corrects your distance vision and also your reading vision. 

Toric

A toric IOL, which can be either monofocal or multifocal, corrects astigmatism. 

One or two weeks before your surgery, you’ll undergo testing to determine which IOL you need. 

What can I expect after cataract surgery?

After surgery, you wear a clear eye shield when you go home. You can't drive that day, but most patients can drive themselves back to Negrey Eye Associates for their post-op appointment the next day. 

At home, you use prescription eye drops to encourage rapid eye healing. Mild cases of light sensitivity and soreness are normal, but they resolve quickly.

Can I have cataract surgery on both eyes at once?

Two separate procedures, 2-3 weeks apart, produce the most reliable results. 

Cataract surgery can give you clear vision, so learn more about cataract surgery by calling Negrey Eye Associates or clicking the online scheduler now. 

Choosing Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) over traditional manual cataract surgery offers several advantages centered around precision, customization, and reduced energy use.

While both methods are considered safe and highly effective, the femtosecond laser automates some of the most critical steps, potentially improving the accuracy and consistency of the procedure.

Key Advantages of the Femtosecond Laser

The femtosecond laser performs several steps that a surgeon typically performs manually with blades, but with computer-guided precision.

1. Enhanced Precision and Consistency

• Corneal Incisions: The laser creates precise, customized, and reproducible incisions in the cornea. This level of accuracy can lead to better wound sealing and may reduce inconsistencies sometimes associated with manual blade incisions.
• Capsulotomy: The laser creates a perfectly circular, precisely sized, and centered opening in the lens capsule (called a capsulotomy). This precision is crucial for the stable and optimal positioning of the replacement lens (Intraocular Lens, or IOL), which is especially important for premium IOLs like multifocal or toric lenses.

2. Reduced Ultrasound Energy

• Cataract Fragmentation: The laser softens and fragments the hard cataract before it is removed. This reduces the amount of ultrasound energy the surgeon needs to use inside your eye to break up the lens.
• Minimized Trauma: Less ultrasound energy means less potential stress and trauma to the delicate surrounding eye tissues, such as the corneal endothelium (a layer of cells vital for corneal clarity). This can potentially lead to faster visual recovery.

3. Astigmatism Correction

• The laser can be programmed to create corneal incisions (arcuate incisions) at specific depths and angles to correct pre-existing astigmatism (an irregularly shaped cornea) during the same procedure.
• This integrated correction can reduce or eliminate the need for additional procedures or reliance on glasses/contact lenses after surgery, particularly when combined with a toric IOL.

Important Consideration: Cost

The main drawback of choosing femtosecond laser surgery is the cost.

• FLACS is typically considered a premium procedure and is generally more expensive than traditional manual cataract surgery.
• The extra cost of the laser portion of the procedure is often not covered by standard insurance or Medicare, which may require you to pay a significant out-of-pocket expense.

In summary, you should consider the femtosecond laser if maximizing surgical precision, getting astigmatism correction, or optimizing the position of a premium intraocular lens is a priority for you.

Would you like to know more about the different types of premium intraocular lenses available?