Dr. Henry performs small incision, no stitch, no shot, phacoemulsification cataract surgery. This facilitates a quick and comfortable recovery. LensStar biometry and Atlas cornea topography are state-of-the-art instruments used to assist in the measurement of the eyes for proper lens selection.
Dr. Henry is available to you for all your post operative care and enjoys seeing you obtain the best vision your eyes will offer.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is the progressive cloudiness of the natural crystalline lens within the eye. The crystalline lens accounts for approximately one third of the eye’s focusing power and primarily consists of water and proteins. Over time, the proteins within the crystalline lens begin to clump together and cloud the lens. This clouding interferes with light rays passing through the eye to the retina, resulting in blurred vision. Some people perceive this clouding as a film over the eye or as if they are looking through wax paper; others notice glare and halos around lights. Fortunately, cataract surgery has the potential to improve the visual acuity by removing the clouded crystalline lens and replacing it with a clear, synthetic intraocular lens (IOL).
Symptoms of cataracts include, but are not limited to:
- Gradual deterioration of vision over time
- Blurred vision or double vision
- Starbursts and halos around bright lights
- Trouble seeing at night
- Vision that deteriorates in the sunlight
- Difficulty perceiving colors
- Decreased depth perception
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
- Trouble reading
Diagnosis
Usually patients are the first to perceive the presence of a cataract with symptoms of blurred vision. Eye care professionals, such as optometrists and ophthalmologists, are able to diagnose cataracts when conducting a comprehensive dilated eye exam. During the comprehensive evaluation the eye doctor is able to rule out other ocular diseases and disorders that can contribute to a decrease in vision. Once the doctor has determined the cataract to be the primary cause for the blurred vision, it is very likely that cataract surgery can improve the vision.
Standard Monofocal IOL
ACRYSOF® IOLs
With 25 million implants worldwide, ACRYSOF® lenses are the most frequently implanted in the world, as physicians appreciate the long-term clinical results and unmatched stability of the lens. Recent advances to this line of lenses also address other visual disturbances while correcting for cataracts. For patients with cataracts and spherical aberration there is the ACRYSOF® IQ lens, which corrects both conditions simultaneously. The spherical aberration of a patient’s cornea can be measured with the Atlas Corneal Topographer and the the choice of an intraocular lenscan be made which reduces the spherical aberration the optimal amount.
Premium Lenses
For correction of astigmatism or presbyopia
In May of 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified its payment rules to present Medicare beneficiaries with the choice to receive presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs) that provide restoration of distance, near and intermediate vision with less dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses following cataract surgery.
Prior to the CMS ruling, limitations on Medicare payment prevented beneficiaries from choosing to purchase these lenses. Under the new policy, Medicare will continue existing reimbursement amounts for cataract surgery, and patients may elect to pay additional charges for advanced technology lenses such as the AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL.
Private insurances also consider premium lenses a “luxury” and require that patients pay for the additional expenses involved with their implantation.
AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL
In cataract patients with astigmatism, Dr. Henry may suggest implantation of a toric implant . The new IQ toric lens implant offers an enhanced aspheric optic that improves image quality and increases contrast sensitivity in cataract surgery patients with astigmatism. The innovative lens design offers these patients the best opportunity for quality distance vision without glasses.
iStent Inject
Cataract surgery and glaucoma therapy – all in one procedure.
If you’ve been managing your glaucoma symptoms with medication, and are now preparing for cataract surgery, iStent inject may be an ideal option for you. Around the world, iStent inject has helped countless people with glaucoma successfully manage their intraocular pressure. By taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during cataract surgery, you can address both of these conditions at the same time.