Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States. There are two types of surgery used to remove cataracts: phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery. In both types of surgery, after the natural lens has been removed, it often is replaced by an artificial one, called an intraocular lens. In about 90 percent of cases, people who have surgery to remove cataracts have better vision afterward. When used to remove a cataract, surgery usually takes less than an hour, and many patients choose to remain awake for the procedure.

 

Cataract Surgery: An Overview

Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world, with over 1 million performed per year in the United States alone. The purpose of cataract surgery is to remove your cataract so that your vision can be improved.
 
Cataract surgery is a proven surgical procedure with predictable results and few complications. Because of the advances in techniques, cataract surgery does not require the extensive recovery periods of years past.
 

Indications for Cataract Surgery

Because of your cataract, you have probably been experiencing:
 
  • Glare in your eyes when looking at bright lights or oncoming car headlights
     
OR
 
  • Decreased vision to the point where you may no longer pass your driver's test or perform activities in your daily life without difficulty.
     
Additionally, your doctor may be experiencing difficulty seeing the back of your eye, which is especially important if you have other eye diseases that may need to be monitored or treated.
 
These are all symptoms that may indicate your cataract is ready to be removed.
 
(Cataract Surgery Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD