Eye Care for the Adirondacks and Cataract Center for the Adirondacks Center is recognized as a leading cataract clinic and surgery center in the North Country. Our same-day, outpatient surgery center is staffed with experts in eye health care and takes pride in anticipating your needs, as well as providing a relaxed experience. The cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia and advanced instruments are used for safe cataract removal. The cloudy natural lens is removed from the eye and replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL) implant which restores the eye’s focusing power.
INTRAOCULAR LENS OPTIONS
1. Monofocal IOL: We can target eyes for distance (needing glasses to read), monofocal, IOL for reading (needing glasses for distance) or 1 eye for distance and 1 eye for near.
2. Astigmatism correction: Another option for refractive cataract surgery is correction of astigmatism. For many years corneal relaxing incisions were helpful in reducing astigmatism. Now the unique design of the new Toric IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism improving vision and becoming less dependent on glasses. The toric IOL is available at additional cost and not covered by insurance.
Sometimes the surface of the cornea is curved more like a football, with both flatter and steeper curves. When the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature vision becomes distorted. This common irregularity called “corneal astigmatism”, causes blurred or distorted vision because light rays are not focused at one sport to provide clear vision. A person who has both a cataract and corneal astigmatism may not regain high quality of distance vision after surgery to remove the cataract unless the astigmatism is also corrected.
If you choose not to have astigmatism correction and you have significant astigmatism prior to surgery then you will most likely need glasses for sharp distance vision as well as for computer or reading.
3. Multifocal Intraocular Lenses: This is an alternative to the standard monofocal intraocular lens and is called a “Presbyopia Correcting IOL” and is not normally covered by insurance.
Multifocal or accommodating lenses offer the best potential for reducing your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Multifocal lenses work by providing simultaneous near and distance vision in each eye thus allowing both eyes to work together for both distance and near. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for IOL. Additional testing and discussion with your surgeon will be necessary.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of cataracts or have already been diagnosed with cataracts, our professional staff is ready to help you navigate through your options, answer all of your questions and set your mind at ease when you are faced with the need for cataract surgery. Contact Eye Care for the Adirondacks today to learn about your options for clearer vision after cataracts.
For more information, click here to visit the National Eye Institute’s Facts About Cataracts.