Cataract Surgery

The cataract surgery specialist at Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons’ Cataract Center, you’ll find award-winning doctors, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced laser technology. Our cataract surgeons were among the first in Ohio to use the LenSx® Custom Cataract Laser for cataract treatment. They’ve also been recognized as Best Doctors in America and Top Docs for nearly 20 years. Since 1982, our cataract surgeons have performed over 50,000 successful cataract surgeries, with a vast majority of our patients achieving legal driving vision or better without glasses following the surgery.

If you’re having vision issues and need answers, schedule an appointment with the highly trained staff and doctors at NEOES. Through a detailed evaluation, we’ll be able to answer your questions and help you determine if cataract laser surgery is the treatment for you. We know that every patient’s eyes are unique, and we’re committed to helping you make the best decision for your vision based on your eye health and lifestyle.

A cataract occurs when the eye’s clear lens becomes cloudy, causing cloudy vision. As the leading cause of vision loss in people over 40, cataract is a condition that should be addressed. Typically, cataracts develop as part of the natural aging process. What causes cataracts? Cataracts can be caused by trauma, disease, or medications. Two common symptoms that patients with cataracts report include blurry vision and sensitivity to light and glare. 

As cataracts progress, reading and driving, especially at night, may be difficult. This is due to cataracts causing your natural lens to become cloudier, which means light rays cannot easily pass through, resulting in glare. In some cases, people with cataracts may experience ghosted or double vision as well. 

Although there is no medical treatment that can reverse or prevent cataracts, cataract surgery may help. If you are at or above the age of 40 and are experiencing problems with your vision, you should schedule an appointment. Let our doctors evaluate your eye health and help you determine the right course of action. 

Laser cataract surgery has helped patients achieve higher-quality vision without needing to rely on glasses.

Studies show that computer-guided laser cataract surgery is more accurate for correcting astigmatism than conventional cataract surgery. It’s also ten times more precise than using a blade, which leads to more accurate surgical outcomes.

Considered one of the safest and most successful procedures we perform, Basic Cataract Surgery has seen some major advancements. During the surgery, our doctor will use a blade to make a microscopic incision on your cornea. Your cloudy, natural lens will be removed, and a clear, basic intraocular lens (IOL) will be inserted. 

Basic Cataract Surgery will alleviate your blurry vision and glare caused by cataracts, but it does not address other eyesight issues. These include astigmatism and the need for reading glasses, with most patients still needing prescription glasses for various activities. Medicare and most private insurances cover this procedure. Insurance co-pays and deductibles still apply.

Combining the precision of a laser with the ability to correct astigmatisms, our Custom Cataract Surgery has helped most cataract patients eliminate their need for glasses for distance vision. 

During this procedure, our surgeons use the LenSx® Custom Cataract Laser to create incisions that treat both cataracts and astigmatism. In fact, studies show that 75% of cataract patients have significant astigmatism, which means they could greatly benefit from cataract laser surgery. Additionally, this procedure allows our surgeons to develop a customized plan that addresses your eyes’ needs. 

In some cases, patients have too much astigmatism for our laser to correct entirely. If this is true for your eyes, our surgeons will use the laser to make incisions to remove the cataract. This also helps properly align the new intraocular lens while fine-tuning the astigmatism correction. However, instead of implanting the basic lens, the doctor will insert a toric IOL, a specially designed lens that corrects higher amounts of astigmatism. This has helped patients enjoy sharp distance vision without glasses, though most will still need reading glasses. Despite this, Custom Cataract Laser Surgery is still one of the most precise and predictable procedures available to cataract patients.

Do you dream of the days where you didn’t rely on glasses to perform your daily activities? Then our Lifestyle Cataract Surgery may be right for you. During Lifestyle Cataract Surgery, your cataract surgeons will use the LenSx® Custom Cataract Laser to treat and eliminate any astigmatism during your surgery. Additionally, the cataract surgeon will implant a special “multifocal” or “accommodative” lens instead of using a basic IOL. These lenses provide you with a greater vision range and significantly reduce your need for near vision glasses. Most Lifestyle Cataract Surgery patients can do close work and read following their procedure. However, some patients still experience the need for mild reading glasses for small print or doing fine work. 

Lifestyle Cataract Treatment Options? 

Find out if the AcrySof IQ PanOptix® IOL may be the right choice for you. PanOptix® IOL is the next-generation trifocal lens designed to provide you with clear vision for near (40 cm), intermediate (60 cm), and far distances without glasses. Click here to learn more about PanOptix® IOL.

Optiwave Refractive Analysis, ORA, is a new and exciting advance in cataract laser surgery. It gives our doctors the ability to further customize your vision after your IOL has been implanted. This cataract surgery measurement tool helps refine and enhance your vision during surgery, resulting in better postoperative vision. 

The ORA system allows our surgeons to determine in real-time your eye’s refraction or visual measurements. This means our surgeons can immediately make any necessary adjustments to the IOL to help ensure your best vision outcome. 

To help ensure proper IOL selection and refraction, all Custom and Lifestyle Cataract procedures include ORA as part of the surgical process. However, cataract surgery patients that elect to undergo Basic Cataract Surgery should consider ORA as well. Ask your doctor about using ORA during your cataract surgery. 

Following your cataract laser surgery, your eye’s capsule, which surrounds the lens, may become cloudy. This common condition can cause decreased vision, glare, or double vision. To treat this, our doctors use an effective and safe treatment with a Yag laser. It takes only a few minutes to perform, and most patients notice an improvement in their vision immediately. 

During Your Surgery

During cataract surgery, your doctor will make a microscopic incision on your cornea. Your doctor will then remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a new, clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Depending on the procedure you choose, the incision may be made with a blade or a laser. At NEOES, we use the latest laser technology to make the most precise cataract incisions that help center the IOL. In total, your cataract procedure should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Post-Operative Care

Following your surgery, you can expect to be able to get back to normal activities within a few days. To help ensure that your treatment was effective, you should schedule post-operative check-ups one day, one week, one month, and typically three months then annually. There are also several things you can and can’t do following your cataract laser surgery.

Cataract FAQ

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is a cloudiness of your eye’s natural lens that typically develops as your eyes age. Occasionally, cataracts can be caused by trauma or too much exposure to the sun. In rare cases, infants can be born with a congenital cataract.

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts can be caused by trauma, disease, or medications. Two common symptoms that patients with cataracts report include blurry vision and sensitivity to light and glare.

What Are The Symptoms of Cataracts?

Cataracts typically cause no symptoms until they have grown large enough to interfere significantly with the passage of light through the lens. Symptoms of cataracts may include:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Double vision (diplopia)
• A sense that colors appear faded
• Seeing halos around lights
• Increased sensitivity to glare
• Distortion of vision (objects appear as if you’re looking through a veil)

Are Cataracts Found Only in Older People?

Cataracts are usually found in people above the age of 40; however, there are rare exceptions. About half the population has a cataract by age 65, and nearly everyone over 75 years of age has at least one.

My Doctor Says I Have a Cataract, But Wants to Wait Before Removing It, Why?

If your doctor advises you to wait, they are likely just waiting for the cataract to significantly interfere with your vision and lifestyle. This is because a cataract typically starts off as very small and practically unnoticeable. But as time goes on, it may grow larger, clouding your vision.For this reason, it’s important to see your eye doctor regularly to monitor your cataract’s progress. It may be that your cataract never reaches the stage of removal. However, if it begins to interfere with activities, such as driving, then it’s time to talk about surgery.

Is Cataract Surgery Serious?

Every surgery performed at Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons Cataract Center is done by experienced surgeons using the latest technology. Although our surgeons have performed tens of thousands of successful cataract procedures, we take each one seriously. This helps us deliver you the best results possible and helps reduce the risk of a less than perfect outcome.

My Family Member Had Cataract Surgery Years Ago and Had To Wear Thick Glasses After, Is That Necessary?

Today, it is rare that anyone would have to wear thick eyeglasses following their cataract surgery. That was the case decades ago when there was no intraocular lens (IOL) placed in the eye at the time of surgery. Cataract patients who have IOLs implanted nowadays during surgery may still need reading glasses for close vision depending on the implant they choose. However, with the newer multifocal and accommodating IOLs, even reading glasses may not be necessary.

How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take and How Soon After Surgery Can I Resume To Normal Activity?

All of our cataract procedures are performed at an outpatient facility and take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The surgery is virtually painless, and most patients resume their normal activities, including driving, within a day or two.You will be given medications to prevent infection and control inflammation. A protective shield is advisable while sleeping; sunglasses can protect you during the day.

For a week after surgery, patients should avoid any heavy lifting or straining, which can increase pressure in the eye. Rubbing or pushing of the eye, and any situation that could result in being hit in the eye, are also to be avoided. Careful showering and shampooing are permitted, as long as no soap or shampoo touches your eye. Avoid using any makeup around your eye for at least one week. Potential sources of bacteria, such as public swimming pools and hot tubs, should also be avoided. When in doubt, you should consult our surgical staff for guidelines regarding post-surgical activities.

Will My Medical Problems Prevent Me From Undergoing Cataract Surgery Safely?

Before your surgery, we may ask your family physician to evaluate you and ensure your blood pressure, blood sugar, and general medical issues are under control. Most patients are under twilight anesthesia but need to be healthy enough to undergo this level of sedation.

Are There Possible Side Effects of Cataract Surgery?

Very few patients have experienced serious complications with cataract surgery. As with any surgery, the possibility of pain, infection, swelling, and bleeding exists. Your surgeon will prescribe medication or the appropriate treatment, should these effects occur. If you experience excessive pain, vision loss, or nausea following cataract surgery, report it to your surgeon immediately.