Hello! My name is Dr. Matthew McCauley and I am one of the cataract surgeons at Berkeley Eye Center. You are probably watching this video because either you or one of your loved ones has been told that you have a cataract. Before we meet, I would like to tell you about cataracts, how the surgery is performed, and some of the new exciting options you will have with your cataract surgery. We are humbled and grateful that you would partner with us in working to improve your vision through cataract surgery.
A cataract means that the natural lens inside your eye has gotten cloudy. New glasses usually will not adequately improve the vision very much at this time and often the best option is to perform surgery. In this surgery, we take out the natural lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens implant referred to as an IOL.
The decision of when to do cataract surgery is an individual one. Usually, I recommend performing cataract surgery when your lifestyle is being impacted by the decreased vision. The most common symptoms of cataracts are:
Blurred vision
Difficulty reading road signs, especially at night
Increased glare at night
Decreased ability to see in low light such as fog or rain
Inability to read or needing extra light to read
Our pre-operative appointment will typically last 3-4 hours. During this appointment you will have a complete eye exam and several other measurements of the eye. You will also have a chance to meet and discuss with me the problems you are having with your vision as well as the different options available to you for correction of your vision. You will also see a counselor to review the instructions, prepare all the paperwork, and schedule the actual procedure.
During your cataract surgery, we are replacing your natural lens with a new artificial intraocular lens implant. These lenses are designed to improve your vision, but many patients will still need glasses for most tasks.
The lens covered by insurance companies works very well, but for most patients that will still require them to wear glasses for distance, intermediate, and near tasks. It is important to know that it does not matter whether you wore glasses or not prior to this surgery. If you choose standard surgery, you should expect to wear glasses full-time.
One of the most exciting recent innovations in eye surgery is the use of new technology and lenses that allows for patients to become less dependent on glasses after cataract surgery. Although these items are approved by both Medicare and insurances, they do not pay for them. However, they do allow for patients to choose to cover the additional fees themselves if they would like them. Because so many folks would like to have these options, I would like to take a few minutes to tell you about them.
The first category of these new lenses and technologies are designed to help the patient see at a distance without glasses. At Berkeley Eye Center we call this our Custom Package. This gives most people the ability to pass the driver's test without glasses. You will still need glasses for the computer and reading, but these can be usually be purchased over-the-counter. This allows us to use additional technology to correct astigmatism you may have, choose the best possible lens type, and diagnose any conditions which need to be considered for your optimal vision after surgery.
The second category of new lenses are the multifocal or enhanced depth of focus lenses. These lenses work by having several different focal points and they allow most patients to see at distance and up close without glasses. We call this our Premium Lens Package. These are the most advanced lenses available and will give most patients freedom from glasses.
As with any surgical procedure there are risks with cataract surgery. While the vast majority of patients do extremely well, everyone who has cataract or lens surgery has a small risk of bleeding, infection, inflammation, lens dislocation, dry eyes or retinal detachment. On occasion, patients may need a second surgery because we are unable to completely remove all of the natural lens or a new lens cannot be implanted as we would like inside the eye. In the future, you may need a laser procedure called a YAG laser. Due to these risks, we typically do one eye at a time, 2 weeks apart, and ask that you come in to see us right away should you have any concerns about your eye or your vision after surgery. Thankfully, cataract surgery boasts one of the highest success rates of any surgery.
I understand how important vision is to our patients and we want to make the best decision with you and for you. Our goal at Berkeley Eye Center is for you to be satisfied with your choice of options, extremely pleased with your outcome, and we are here to help you in this process. I look forward to seeing you and working with you to give you the very best vision possible.
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