At Esterman Eye Institute we diagnose and treat cataracts. A cataract can be described as a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which is clear at birth but eventually changes with time. Eventually the cataract becomes “mature” and can cause glare, blurred and/or reduced vision, which cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. According to Prevent Blindness America (PBA), cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss among individuals ages 40 and up. The PBA predicts that approximately 30 million Americans will have cataracts by the year 2020.

Cataracts can be treated using visual aids, such as glasses, or through surgery. In cases where surgery is required, Esterman Eye Institute’s cataract surgeons are prepared to help patients regain better vision. A cataract surgery procedure involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). The surgeons at the Esterman Eye Institute are experienced in the modern cataract surgery, which uses a microscopic incision and ultrasound device to remove the cataract and replace it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL), usually without the need for any stitches! While cataract surgery is a real surgery and should be treated as such, cataract surgery has a very high success rate in the United States and patients routinely regain very good vision.

Currently in today’s world, several options exist for which intraocular lens implant (IOL) can be placed in your eye during cataract surgery. Standard IOLs can correct a person’s pre-existing nearsightedness or farsightedness but do not correct for astigmatism or presbyopia (the decreased ability to read fine print up close that occurs as a result of aging, usually after the age of 40). In order to correct these conditions as well, several specialized IOLs are available.
Toric IOLs are used to correct astigmatism, as well as the patient’s underlying nearsightedness or farsightedness, thereby decreasing the need for glasses at a distance and providing clearer vision. Multifocal IOLs correct a person’s distance, intermediate and near vision, thereby allowing him or her to see fine print up close without the use of reading glasses. Placement of either the standard, toric or multifocal lens requires the same process and does not affect the actual cataract surgery. Our eye specialists are trained in placement of all types of IOLs and would be happy to assist you in choosing an IOL that would best suit your needs.