If you live in a blurry world with cataracts clouding your natural lens and obstructing light from reaching your retina, you may be a candidate for cataract surgery. Commonly developed with age—over 90% of individuals experience it by 65—this cloudiness can severely impair your vision.
Laser cataract surgery, a highly effective treatment using a device that combines computer-assisted analysis, measurement, and laser technologies, could restore the clear vision you once enjoyed. But are you an ideal candidate for this life-altering procedure? Let’s find out.
1. Determine Your Cataract Severity with an Ophthalmologist
The first step to determine if you qualify for laser cataract surgery is to have a comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist, an eye doctor specializing in eye surgery. The cataract specialist will evaluate the condition of your eyes, measure your vision, and check for other eye diseases or problems. If diagnosed with a cataract in one or both of your eyes, they will assess the severity of your cataracts and how they affect your vision and quality of life.
Generally, laser cataract surgery is recommended when your cataracts are causing significant vision impairment that glasses, contact lenses, or other treatments cannot correct. The advanced laser technology is particularly useful for dense cataracts or when precise lens capsule openings are needed.
However, proceeding with advanced laser cataract surgery is ultimately up to you and your doctor based on your personal preferences, goals, and expectations.
2. Check Your Eye Health Beyond Cataracts
Laser cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure, but it is not without risks or complications. Make sure your eyes are healthy enough to undergo advanced laser cataract surgery and that you do not have any underlying conditions that could increase your risk of complications.
Eye Conditions That Can Affect Eligibility
Corneal scarring
If you have scars on your cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, they could interfere with the laser’s ability to make precise incisions and access the cataract. Previous eye injuries, infections, or surgeries can cause corneal scarring.
Pupil dysfunction
If you have problems with your pupils, the black circles in the center of your eyes could prevent the laser from creating a circular opening in the lens capsule, the thin membrane that holds the lens in place. Certain medications, eye diseases, or previous eye surgeries can cause pupil dysfunction.
Glaucoma
If you have glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve, the cable that connects the eye to the brain, you may not be able to tolerate the increased pressure that the laser creates inside the eye during the surgery. Glaucoma can also affect the healing and recovery process after the surgery.
Macular degeneration
If you have macular degeneration, a condition that affects the central part of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In that case, you may not achieve the best possible vision after the surgery. Macular degeneration can cause distortion, blurriness, or blind spots in your central vision.
Read more about retinal and corneal conditions.
3. Choose the Correct Lens Type
The final factor is the type of lens you want to replace your natural lens after the cataract is removed. Different types of artificial lenses, also called intraocular lenses (IOLs), can provide different levels of vision correction and quality.
Custom Vision
With a Custom Vision option, your surgeon will tailor your visual outcome to meet your personal desire for decreased dependence on glasses. Custom Vision is most commonly used for those patients who primarily want good distance vision and don’t mind wearing eyeglasses for near and intermediate vision.
Advanced Vision
With an Advanced Vision option, your surgeon uses the latest ophthalmic technology to achieve your personal best vision and help you reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses at all distances.
RXSIGHT™ Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
Lake Eye Associates is excited to offer the new RXSIGHT™ Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) as an option for cataract surgery patients. This lens adjustment process leverages exact, non-invasive light treatments to correct your sight, ensuring your visual outcome aligns with your specific preferences. Click here to watch the video!
Book Your First Eye Appointment with Lake Eye
Don’t let cataracts blur your vision; schedule your first appointment with Lake Eye Associates and see life in a new light.
**The information provided in this blog on laser cataract surgery is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.**
