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Cataract with Intraocular Lens (IOL)
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The lens works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting you see things clearly both near and far.
A cataract starts out small, and at first has little effect on your vision. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass. A cataract may make light from the sun or a lamp seem too bright or glaring. Or you may notice when you drive at night that the oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. You may also notice a need for very intense light when trying to read. Colors may not appear as bright as they once did.
Think about surgery when your cataracts have progressed enough to seriously impair your vision and affect your daily life. Many people consider poor vision an inevitable fact of aging, but cataract surgery is a simple, relatively painless procedure to regain vision. Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. Most people who have cataract surgery regain very good vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40.
Prior to surgery measurement will be taken to determine the strength of the new lens. During surgery, Dr Snyder will remove your clouded lens, and in most cases replace it with a clear, acrylic intraocular lens (IOL). After your new lens is in place Dr Snyder will place a few stitches in your eye to close the opening. You should feel little to no pain after the surgery. Depending on the length of time you endured the cataract and the severity of the cataract you may notice an immediate improvement in your vision. Although, you vision will continue to improve over the three to four weeks following your surgery until you eye has healed completely when you will have what should be your “permanent” results.
We now offer presbyopia correcting IOLs. These are lenses that are intended to provide distance vision and assist in intermediate and near vision. There are a variety of designs and strategies. We prefer the new accommodating Crystalens, which we believe gives the best distance vision while providing over 80% of our patients very good intermediate or near vision.
If you believe you have a cataract you should contact the office to schedule an evaluation with Dr Snyder to discuss your options. During your evaluation our staff will evaluate the effect the cataract has had on your vision. In most cases this is considered medically necessary and can be billed to you health insurance.
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