Cataracts: Surgical Solutions To Vision Impairment
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the surface or interior of the eye's lens that causes vision impairment, or in severe cases, blindness. The lens is a small oval like structure and consists of a thin capsule (like saran wrap) enveloping a bag of protein.
Both the capsule and protein inside the lens are crystal clear and colorless at birth but discolor and cloud with age: first yellow, then brown, and finally cloudy. A partial or completely opaque lens that interferes with vision is called a cataract.
The cataract prevents the eye from transmitting or focusing light clearly. A cataract is not a growth, a "skin", or a disease. It is usually not a sign of eye or systemic disease.
Symptoms of Cataract
Symptoms of cataract include blurred vision while driving, watching TV, and difficulty reading normal print material such as books and newspapers.
Initially the cataract changes the focusing power of the eye, causing some nearsightedness/myopia. A change of glasses can sometimes improve vision. Gradually, clarity drops so that visual tasks become increasingly difficult, despite the best possible glasses. Driving and reading vision become progressively worse, especially at night. Glare from headlights also increases.
A person with cataract views the world as if through a shower door or a windshield that needs defrosting. Glare becomes a serious problem, color perception and depth perception are affected and TV viewing is blurred. All these symptoms worsen as time passes, indicating that cataract surgery should be considered and discussed with Dr. Breaux. To make an appointment with Dr. Breaux to discuss your cataract symptoms, call our Pinole office at 510-724-8100 or our Oakland/Berkeley office at 510-655-6626.
Surgical Correction of Cataract
Cataract surgery is usually fast, comfortable, and very successful. For those in the Pinole, Oakland and Berkely area, surgery can and usually is performed as outpatient surgery with an office visit the next day. Anesthesia consists of minimal sedation, topical eye gel, and sometimes a local block.
The surgery takes 15 to 20 minutes and the patient is sent home the same day.
The procedure is usually done by phacoemulsification, an instrument/technique that breaks the cataract into small pieces before removal from the eye.
Once the cataract is removed, a lens implant is necessary to restore best vision for the patient. The lens implant is folded, injected through the same tiny opening into the eye, and the incision is closed with one stitch (sometimes no stitch is needed). The implant is permanent, stable, and blocks UV radiation.
Intraocular Lens Implants
Implanting an intraocular lens (IOL) at the time of cataract surgery is the standard procedure for cataract surgery. There are several types of IOLs offered today. The most advanced technology currently available is Crystalens®, an FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) that, unlike a standard IOL, can treat a person's cataracts and restore a broad range of vision, reducing or eliminating dependence on eyeglasses. This unique lens is able to team with muscles in the eye to flex and focus very much like a natural lens does ("accommodating" to vision at different distances). Most of Dr. Breaux's Crystalens patients are able to read a book, surf the Web, and drive a car without the need for glasses.
Crystalens is the first and only FDA-approved accommodating IOL. Compared to monofocal IOLs and multifocal IOLs, Crystalens provides several advantages:
- Broad Range of Vision: Crystalens moves and changes shape using the eye's natural focusing mechanism, improving focus from near to far.
- Clarity of Vision: Unlike multifocal lenses, Crystalens directs all available light received by the eye to a single focal point, similar to a natural lens.
- Patient Adjustment Not Required: Crystalens produces a single image consistent with normal vision, so patients do not need to relearn how to view multiple images or adjust to glare that can occur with multifocal IOLs.
Dr. Breaux also offers ReSTOR® and ReZoom™ mulitfocal lenses, which are a significant advance over standard IOLs and allow patients to see clearly at several different distances. At your consultation, Dr. Breaux will evaluate you and recommend a treatment option that's best for your situation.
Dr. Breaux has received training in IOL implantation for his cataract patients. Call our Pinole office at (510) 724-8100 or our Oakland office at (510) 655-6626 today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Breaux. With two offices in the East Bay, Dr Breaux is easily accessible to prospective patients seeking up to date information on cataract and refractive surgery.
Cataract and Lasers
From several months to several years after successful cataract surgery, a cloud may develop behind the lens implant. This is called a secondary cataract and can blur vision much as the original cataract.
The YAG laser is used in the treatment of secondary cataracts. The YAG laser makes a small opening in the cloudy membrane behind the lens implant. This requires 2 minutes and usually results in immediate vision improvement. The YAG laser is not used for the original cataract surgery.
