NJ'S TOP RECOMMENDED CATARACT SURGEON

Understanding Cataracts

NJ's Top Recommended Cataract Surgeon Understanding Cataracts:

Healthy Eye:

In a healthy eye, light passes through the cornea and is focused by the lens onto the surface of the retina. If any part of the visual system loses clarity or focus, our vision becomes blurry. When we are born, the lens of our eye is clear. As we age, the lens gradually becomes more cloudy. This process happens as a result of years and years of UV exposure, genetics, and the normal aging process. Clouding and loss of transparency of the lens is called a cataract.

How do Cataracts Affect Our Vision?

In a healthy eye, light passes through the cornea and is focused by the lens onto the surface of the retina. If any part of the visual system loses clarity or focus, our vision becomes blurry. When we are born, the lens of our eye is clear. As we age, the lens gradually becomes more cloudy. This process happens as a result of years and years of UV exposure, genetics, and the normal aging process. Clouding and loss of transparency of the lens is called a cataract.

Quality of Vision:

Cataracts first develop as a mild yellow tint to the naturally clear lens. As cataracts worsen they become more amber colored, then brown, and then can even become white. At first patients will notice a mild decrease in sharpness and clarity of vision. As cataracts progress, colors may seem less bright and vivid. Seeing signs or faces at a distance may not be clear.

Near Vision Difficulty:

Cataracts first develop as a mild yellow tint to the naturally clear lens. As cataracts worsen they become more amber colored, then brown, and then can even become white. At first patients will notice a mild decrease in sharpness and clarity of vision. As cataracts progress, colors may seem less bright and vivid. Seeing signs or faces at a distance may not be clear.

Night Driving Problems:

Driving at night can become difficult for patients with cataracts. Night vision reduces as cataracts increase. Cataracts scatter light so oncoming headlights can become more bothersome as stray light causes glare and halos.

Types of Lens Implants

With every cataract surgery, after the cloudy cataract is removed, a new clear artificial lens implant is placed in the eye. There are many types of IOLs (intraocular lens implants). Before cataract surgery, your doctor will measure your eye with specialized instruments to determine the best type of lens implant for your eye. There is no perfect lens implant and every type of lens has advantages and disadvantages. Basic lens implants will require the use of glasses after cataract surgery. Upgraded distance, astigmatism correcting, and range of vision lenses are commonly used to reduce the need for glasses after cataract surgery.

Basic monofocal lenses provide clear vision with the use of eyeglasses. Basic intraocular lenses do not correct for the unique shape of your eye and are not designed to correct astigmatism or presbyopia. Most individuals with basic lens implants will need bifocals and/or reading glasses to see optimally far and near.

Toric Lens

Toric lens implants are custom intraocular lenses that correct for both conditions, cataracts and astigmatism in one procedure. Patients with moderate or high levels of astigmatism will have the best visual results with Toric lens implants. Astigmatism is when the corneal surface of the eye has an irregular shape. Instead of being even and smooth in all directions, the cornea may have some areas that are flatter or steeper. Astigmatism causes blurry vision at all distances. Astigmatism is often present at birth and may occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Clinical Study Data for Toric intraocular lenses have shown improved uncorrected distance vision, improved contrast sensitivity in low-light situations, significant reduction in both spherical and total high order abberations, and improved functional vision in challenging environments such as night driving, glare and fog.

Extended Range Lens

Basic single-vision lenses focus light at one distance while extended range intraocular lenses elongate the focus point. This allows a more seamless transition between distance and intermediate vision. Many patients who prefer mono-vision enjoy excellent vision with an extended range implant. Extended range intraocular lenses offer excellent quality of night vision with among the lowest rate of glare and halo. The Vivity IOL from Alcon vision is an extended range lens implant that offers distance and computer vision without the need for glasses.

Multifocal or Trifocal Lens

Multifocal or trifocal intraocular lenses allow distance, mid-range, and close-up vision with minimal or no need for glasses. The technology works by sharing the focused light passing through the lens for focus at different distances. Trifocal IOLs like the Synergy Lens and Panoptix Lens allow for the widest range of vision with minimal, if any, need for glasses to see clearly far or near. No intraocular lens is perfect and even patients with multifocal IOLs may require glasses for certain activities such as very small print or low-lighting situations.

The lens that is right for you will depend on the shape of your eye, your visual needs and your lifestyle.

Cataract surgery is done only one time in your life and the decision you make for your lens implant will affect how you see for the rest of your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cataract?

A cataract forms when the lens of the eyes changes from being clear to becoming cloudy. Cataracts gradually get worse over time and can cause symptoms like glare when driving at night and difficulty reading small print.

When should I have cataract surgery?

If cataracts are mild and not affecting the vision or harming the health of the eye, no treatment is needed. However, once cataracts are causing visual symptoms it is time to see your eye doctor as they will likely get worse over time.

What type of lens should I choose for my cataract surgery?

As part of the pre-op evaluation, specialized scans are taken to measure the length and curvature of the eye. Dr Heimmel will review the imaging and specifics of your case to recommend the best lens implant for your eye.