Cataracts

HOW ARE CATARACTS FORMED?
More than 50% of people over the age of 60 - and a large percentage of those younger - have vision that is impaired by cataracts. Cataracts are so common that everyone will eventually develop a cataract if they live long enough.

Despite recent breakthroughs in technology and surgical techniques, cataracts continue to be one of the leading causes of blindness among seniors worldwide. A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eyes natural lens that interferes with light passing through to the retina. Cataract patients often describe the condition as being similar to looking through a waterfall or piece of wax paper, with a gradual blurring or dimming of vision.

Currently, there is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, there is only one way to achieve clear vision again, and that is to physically remove the cataract from the eye.

The length of time for a cataract to develop can vary from a few months to several years. Vision loss from cataracts is gradual, which is why many patients have difficulty noticing the early symptoms. Most patients also do not know when they should have their cataracts removed.

The best time to have your cataract removed is when your quality of life has been diminished because of poor vision. If you are bothered by glare, halos around lights, or even double vision, cataracts could be the problem. Due to the advances in modern medicine, there is no reason to suffer with cataracts anymore. If you suspect you have a cataract, please call our office and schedule a quick and easy screening with one of our doctors. Join the millions who now enjoy the beauty of restored vision through the miracle of modern-day cataract surgery. According to the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, more than 98% of cataract patients had their vision successful improved after surgery. Many patients experience vision that is actually better than before they developed cataracts.

Intraocular Lens Implant Options

If you are diagnosed with cataract formation, the Bentz Eye center wants you to be aware that there are different treatment options available for you.
Cataracts develop when the natural lens of your eyes become cloudy, affecting your sight.  Visually significant cataracts can be removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant on an outpatient basis.
Cataract surgery is indicated when the quality of your vision interferes with your daily activities, be it driving, reading, or just unusual glare or halos associated with lights. 

After the cataract is removed, it is replaced with an intraocular lens implant that is similar to a small soft contact lens which contains an optical prescription that is matched for you, much like your glasses.

However, we now have different treatment options available to address this prescription, the standard or lifestyle implants.

Standard Lens Options

Traditionally, the standard intraocular lens was designed to improve vision to a level the eyes saw before cataract formation occurred, with the additional aid of glasses.

Ophthalmologists today can insert a standard implant which can provide single distance vision only. Reading glasses or bifocals are then used for fine tuning and reading small print. Most patients accept this, as they are accustomed to bifocals, progressive lenses, or reading glasses.

Modern technology intraocular lens implants (presbyopia correcting) are now available to permit patients to be less dependent on bifocals or reading glasses, both for distance and near.

Lifestyle Lens Options – Presbyopia Correcting Implants

When deciding between cataract surgery options, you can now choose a premium lifestyle lens implant that can enhance your vision, allowing you to see near, far, and in between without glasses or contacts.

With presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implants, you can expect a full range of vision at distance and near, “glasses free,” typically 95 % of the time. Using modern technology lifestyle lenses and advanced surgical technique, you may, once again, eliminate your dependence on bifocals and reading glasses, yet still enjoy clear far away vision.

Not all cataract patients are candidates for this presbyopia correcting technology, so Dr. Bentz will need to evaluate your eyes before you will know if this is right for you. Also, not all ophthalmologists offer or perform presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implants with cataract surgery.

Dr. Bentz has over 25 years of refractive surgery experience and performs a variety of different refractive surgery procedures, including LASIK. He has a unique skill set and vast experience with all types of refractive surgery and intraocular lens implants.

We are pleased to offer the following premium presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implant options:

• ReSTOR®
• Crystalens®
• Tecnis MF™

Other lifestyle lens options include the Toric intraocular lens which corrects for astigmatism. This improves the quality of vision for distance in patients with excess astigmatism.

ReSTOR Lens®

ReSTOR Lens is the “Space- Age” Bifocal. Like Tecnis MF, the ReSTOR lens is a non-moving lens implant. It too can give distance and near vision simultaneously.

Rather than having three separate focusing zones like Tecnis MF, however, the ReSTOR lens focuses vision using an “apodized” surface. This high-tech manufacturing process gives the lens a gradual blending of focusing power throughout the entire lens surface.

With the ReSTOR lens, 97% of people can see both distance objects (road signs) and near objects (reading material within 1-2 feet) without difficulty, especially in good light. Arms length vision (the computer screen, for example) at 2-3 feet is less clear, and many people will need glasses for these kinds of tasks.  Vision to utilize a laptop, pda or cell phone is very good.

In dim light, the lens is designed to give better distance vision. However, 5% of people with ReSTOR do notice moderate halos or glare around lights at night.

The greatest advantage of the ReSTOR lens is the clarity of vision for fine print. The results are almost immediate. The disadvantages include mild to moderate halos around lights when driving at night and the need for glasses for arms length vision (eg. desktop, computer).

For more information about the ReSTOR IOL go to: www.acrysofrestor.com

Tecnis Multifocal Lens™

The TECNIS® Multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL) will give you good far vision. It can also give you good near and intermediate vision (at 2 – 5 feet).

The Tecnis™ multifocal lens has been used in Europe since 2003 and since its introduction, 9 out of 10 patients have reported never wearing glasses after having surgery and a 95% satisfaction rate.

Since the Tecnis™ lens is not pupil dependent, you get a clearer near image without bright light. In essence this lens delivers consistent near vision regardless of your lighted environment.The Tecnis™ multifocal lifestyle lens provides vision for reading a menu in a dim lit restaurant, seeing a golf card while wearing dark sunglasses and also reading with a bright lamp or even reading out of doors without sunglasses.
The advantages of the Tecnis™lenses are excellent visual acuity for distance, arm's length, and near vision, regardless of the amount of light. The disadvantages include halos, rings, and glare around lights when driving at night.

If you wish to be able to see well at far, read a newspaper, and have useful intermediate vision without glasses in bright or dim light, then the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL may be the better choice.

For more information about the Tecnis™ Multifocal go to: www.tecnismultifocal.com

Crystalens®

The Crystalens implant (made by Bausch + Lomb) can give semi-near reading vision, arm’s length, and distance vision without glasses. This implant actually adjusts its position within the eye as the eye looks from far to near subjects, much like an ‘auto focus’ mechanism on a camera.
The Crystalens is powered by the same ciliary body muscles that move and focus the eye’s own natural lens. Its unique, hinged shape allows for this lens movement and gives a seamless transition from far to arm’s length to near vision.

Most people with the Crystalens have clear far vision (driving, television) and intermediate vision (arm’s length, desktop computer screen) without any glasses. Most people can also read newsprint without glasses when the two eyes are targeted for post operative asymmetry.  One eye is targeted for distance while the other eye is targeted slightly more for near vision.
Crystalens® patients may be more dependent on reading glasses for real fine print, but may have better quality vision for intermediate and distance than the ReSTOR® or Tecnis MF™ lens.

Patients that may benefit more from Crystalens® are typically more easygoing and have active lifestyles enjoying tennis, golf, and other recreational activities. They would not mind rarely wearing reading glasses for smaller print or spending time on a laptop computer. Patients that drive a lot at night or pilots may also be better candidates for the Crystalens® .
The advantage of the Crystalens® is that it is truly an accommodating lens. Theoretically providing the best clarity of vision. The disadvantage is that some patients may require reading glasses for small print more often than not.

For more information about the Crystalens® go to: www.crystalens.com

The Procedure

The first step is to make a small hole in the front of the capsule that holds the natural lens or cataract.

The next step is to make a small incision used to insert the phacoemulsification tip. This is the device that removes the cataract using ultrasonic wavelength. The ultrasound breaks up the cataract and allows it to gently be vacuumed from the eye.

The silicone lens is then folded and inserted into the eye using the same tiny incision as the phacoemulsification tip. The incision is self-sealing and usually does not require stitches.