Posted by: Clemson Eye in News
Greenville News, August 20, 2014
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Technology has always played an important role in eye care. Today, just about every aspect of vision care has been significantly improved by a technology that wasn’t available 10 years ago.
Cataract surgery is a good example of the great advances being made. But before we talk about the innovations in modern cataract surgery, let’s cover the basics of what a cataract is and how it occurs.Understanding Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. Changes in the lens proteins and increased water content cause the lens to become cloudy and take on a darker yellow color, so that light can no longer be easily transmitted to the retina. This results in a painless, often insidious blurring of vision as well as glare and washed-out colors.
Cataracts are usually the natural result of aging, but may also be caused by trauma, medications, systemic or ocular disease or genetic factors. The appearance and symptoms of cataracts can vary depending on their cause. A comprehensive eye exam is required for a definitive diagnosis and to determine if any other eye disorders are contributing to the blurred vision. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. They are the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.
To date there are no proven non-surgical treatments. When cataracts cause enough visual disturbance to interfere with a person’s work, hobbies or lifestyle (particularly driving), it is probably time to remove them.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most commonly performed ophthalmologic procedures in the United States. 1 The surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a permanent artificial one.
Innovations in Replacement Lenses
Today, patients can choose the intraocular lens (IOL) replacement that best suits their lifestyle. For instance, a multifocal IOL, like the ReSTOR® lens, provides a range of vision. A full 85% of Clemson Eye patients never wear glasses again after their ReSTOR® lens implant.2 Note that patients can still opt for a traditional “monofocal” lens replacement, understanding that they will still likely be dependent on glasses after cataract surgery.
Along with improved lens implant technology, cataract surgery has advanced to include the femtosecond laser. The laser replaces many of the surgical steps that used to be performed manually by the surgeon.
Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
Approved for use in cataract surgery by the FDA in 2010, and introduced in 2011, the femtosecond laser is now used by a number of select surgeons world-wide. It is used to make the initial incisions in the cornea, to create the incision in the lens capsule, to soften and break up the clouded lens for extraction, and to make incisions within the peripheral cornea to correct pre-existing astigmatism.
The patient benefits include more consistent and stable incisions, which facilitate faster healing, are more secure and have less risk of leaks and infection.3 The laser also allows the surgeon to recreate the exact same size capsule opening every single time. This improves the position of the lens implant in the eye and the surgeon’s ability to calculate the refractive power of the implant. With the astigmatism correcting incisions, this all adds up to improved visual outcomes.4
At Clemson Eye, patients who opted for Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (LACS) with an advanced lens implant are generally achieving 20/20 vision without glasses, regardless of their age.2 Mike Chandler, wood turner and former optical engineer, is one such patient.
Mike Chandler, Wood Turner and Former Engineer
“When I moved to Seneca, SC, one of the things I took up was wood turning,” says Mike. “I’d been wearing reading glasses since I was 45 years old. Wore them up until a year ago, when I had cataract surgery. I found for the extremely small work I do, I needed increasingly higher powered lenses, which caused me to have to move in closer to be able to see. Now, after laser cataract surgery with the ReSTOR® lens, I can sit back comfortably to do what I used to have to do close up.
“I’m familiar with the lens, having worked on the manufacturing side of the ophthalmic business for years. I can tell you it’s an excellent product.
“People used to tell me: ‘You should wait until the cataract is more fully developed before having surgery.’ But that is old-school thinking. When Dr. Parisi told me I had cataracts, he said ‘You can wait for the surgery or have it now.’ I asked if there was any issue with having the surgery now, and he said there wasn’t. So, I opted for sooner than later. When I left surgery, my vision was 20/20 the next day! You would not believe the difference in your vision once you’ve had this done. It is just amazing,” says Mike.
Eye Exam is Best Way to Know
If you think you may have a cataract, we encourage you to book an eye exam promptly. In terms of costs and payment, basic cataract surgery is usually covered by most insurance plans. Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery and advanced lens implants require an additional payment. If you’re a Clemson Eye patient, you have the option of 24-month, 0% payment plans.
The surgeons at Clemson Eye were among the first in the country to perform Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery with advanced lens implants. We use the most advanced suite of laser-guided surgery systems available today.
- Nagy Z, Takacs A, Filkorn T, Sarayba M. Initial clinical evaluation of an intraocular femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. J Refract Surg. 2009; 25(12):1053-1060.
- Clemson Eye Laser Cataract with Advanced Intraocular Lens Replacement Results, 2013.
- “Laser Pretreatment Softens Cataracts, Allows for Safer, Easier Removal, Researchers Say”, Charlene Laino, WebMD Health News, (Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD), Oct. 25, 2011.
- Palanker DV, Blumenkranz MS, Andersen D, et al. Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with integrated optical coherence tomography. Sci Transl Med 2010; 2:58ra85.
