Cataract Surgery

If you're over the age of 60 and blurry vision limits what you can do, it’s time to consider cataract surgery. At Spark Eye Care, we provide cataract surgery to restore your eyesight and give you clear, sharp vision. Dr. Plummer will help you find the right replacement lens to optimize your vision after surgery. Choosing a premium lens can even reduce or eliminate the need for glasses! Call the Kyle, Texas, office today to learn more about the benefits of cataract surgery or book an appointment online.

What is cataract surgery?

A cataract happens when the natural lens inside your eye turns cloudy. The lens is responsible for focusing light that passes into your eye to produce clear vision. When it becomes cloudy, patients will notice blurry vision and glare from bright lights. 

Cataract surgery is a surgical procedure to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens. The articificial lens implant lasts a lifetime and can be customized to give patient's the best possible vision.

Spark Eye Care offers cataract surgery for adults on an outpatient basis. Dr. Plummer completes an eye exam to determine if you’re a candidate for surgery. You will have an extensive discussion to personalize a vision plan that meets your individual goals. 

When should I consider cataract surgery?

Your risk for cataracts increases with age as the lens becomes thicker and less flexible. You may also develop cataracts at an earlier age if you smoke, suffer an eye injury, or have diabetes.

You might be a candidate for cataract surgery if your vision is blurry and interferes with your ability to drive or work or if the clouded lens makes it difficult for Dr. Plummer to view the back of your eye during an exam.

What Lens Should I Choose?

There are several makes and models of lens implant on the market, and helping patients choose the right lens is the most critical part of the cataract surgery journey. Dr. Plummer takes the time to understand your needs and visual goals to maximize patient satisfaction. The following options represent an overview of the available technology:

Basic lens: This option is the most affordable because it is covered by insurance. The lens gives "monofocal" vision, meaning patients can either prioritize distance or near vision, but not both. Furthermore, this lens does not correct astigmatism, so patients are more likely to be dependent on glasses with this choice. 

Astigmatism Correction: This lens improves on the basic lens by correcting astigmatism, which is when the shape of the eye isn't perfectly round. Astigmatism makes vision blurry at both far and near, so correcting it with this IOL gives patients a much better chance of clear vision without glasses. It is still a monofocal design, so patiens will have to choose between far or near vision. The end result is that most patients see clearly for distance vision and wear reading glasses for close work. 

Presbyopia Correction: This is the most advanced technology and most premium option available. Presbyopia is the term for when patients lose the ability to focus for both far and near vision, and explains why most people start wearing reading glasses in their 40s. With this IOL, patients have the opportunity to achieve glasses-free vision at far, intermediate and near. For anyone who is tired of wearing glasses, this can be a life-changing surgery.  

What if I don't have a cataract, but want to stop wearing glasses?

Advances in surgical technology have made the process of cataract surgery incredibly safe and reliable. While lens implant technology still can't match a young natural lens, more and more patients each year are choosing to replace their aging natural lens before the development of cataracts. These patients, typically aged 40-60, can take advantage of presbyopia-correcting IOLs and enjoy glasses-free vision for many decades, without ever having to worry about developing a cataract!

What happens during cataract surgery?

Ahead of your cataract surgery at Spark Eye Care, you can expect Dr. Plummer to take precise measurements of your eye to determine its shape and size. These tests help him to customize your surgery so that your lens implant is perfectly matched to your eye.

During cataract surgery, your eye will be numb and you will be given relaxing medicine. For most patients, the process is completely painless and lasts less than ten minutes. Dr. Plummer makes small incisions in your eye to remove the old lens and place the IOL. 

These small incisions typically heal on their own without sutures. Dr. Plummer will prescribe medicated eye drops to prevent infection and help your eye heal efficiently.

How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?

It’s normal for your eye to be blurry and scratchy for a few days. While there is a broad range of recovery times, many patients notice an improvement in their vision within 24 hours.

For the first week after surgery, we ask that you wear a protective eye shield while sleeping and to avoid heavy lifting or bending over. You will have a few post-op visits to make sure that everything is healing correcly.

Cataract surgery is a permanent, once-in-a-lifetime surgery. However, some patients will develop a film of scar tissue over their lens implant. This is easily treated in the office with a non-invasive laser. The treatment is painless, takes about 30 seconds, and permanently removes the scar tissue.

Call Spark Eye Care today to schedule a cataract surgery consultation or book an appointment online.