Restore Your Vision With Custom Cataract Laser Surgery

Cataracts are the most common reason for reduced vision as we get older.

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye which causes blurred or reduced vision
at all distances. In a healthy eye, light passes through the lens and is
focused on the retina which in turn transfers the image into nerve signals
that are sent to the brain. As cataracts form, the lens of the eye becomes
clouded and the images sent to the retina are not as sharp and vibrant as
they once were. This condition generally develops gradually and can appear
as early as age 40. By age 80, over half of the population has had cataracts
in one or both eyes.

What is Available to Treat Cataracts?

Cataract patients have typically undergone surgery to replace the natural
lens of the eye and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens or IOL. This
procedure is called standard cataract surgery and is covered by most
insurance plans including Medicare. These IOLs are effective in
restoringvision and the patient will never again develop a cataract.
Although these standard IOLs produce clear vision, patients may still need
glasses or contacts to focus on objects at near, far or both due to
remaining astigmatism and presbyopia. Custom Cataract Surgery involves
the use of special advanced technology IOLs and techniques that are
specifically designed to help people see near and far. These special IOLs
and techniques have been very successful in helping people reduce or
eliminate their dependency on glasses by decreasing astigmatism and
presbyopia.

Custom Cataract Laser

Until now, standard cataract procedures and custom cataract surgeries
were performed manually where the surgeon used a blade for all incisions.
A manual procedure allows for a margin of error that can increase risks and
affect outcomes. With the introduction of the first FDA approved custom
cataract laser, surgeons at The Eye Institute of Utah now have the ability to
create incisions and potentially reduce astigmatism without blades. These
incisions are proven to be more accurate and precise, thus eliminating
some of the variables that have complicated cataract surgery in the past.
Recent results show that the custom cataract laser is up to 10x more
precise than manual techniques for some portions of the cataract surgical
procedure. This type of laser precision, combined with the experience of
world class cataract surgeons is available only at The Eye Institute of Utah.
By being more accurate and precise, surgery should be safer and visual
outcomes more predictable. Laser is Not Just for Cataract Patients Custom
cataract laser surgery uses similar technology to that of blade-free LASIK
surgery. Most people understand that blade-free LASIK is more accurate
and safe however most people don’t understand that LASIK is usually not
the best vision correction option for those who are over 45. This is due to
the fact that LASIK cannot prevent presbyopia. People who are over 45, who
elect to have LASIK, may still need glasses or contacts for up close vision
because the natural lens inside their eyes still continues to change with
age.

What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the hardening of the lens, which typically causes a loss of
focus on objects up close. The lens of the eye needs to change its shape to
focus on objects at distance, or objects up close. This ability for the lens of
the eye to change shape and focus up close is typically lost as people age.
Those who are over 45 and need glasses for reading are most likely
experiencing the beginning of presbyopia. Presbyopia is a natural part of
the aging process and it affects everyone. Patients with presbyopia can now
choose to have a procedure called refractive lens exchange or RLE to
replace the natural lenses of their eyes with multifocal intraocular lenses or
IOLs. These multifocal IOLs are different from standard IOLs in that they
help focus near, far, and in between and in most cases the patient will
never have to use glasses or contacts again. This is an elective surgery and
is generally not covered by insurance. If you suspect that your poor vision
may be caused by cataracts, call today to schedule your appointment.
Cataract surgery is covered by insurance and The Eye Institute of Utah
accepts most plans including Medicare. If you have presbyopia and would
like to restore your vision of earlier years, call today to set up a no charge
consultation. During your visit, the world-class doctors at The Eye Institute
of Utah will determine if your eyes qualify for the newest premium IOLs.
Most patients are great candidates and experience excellent outcomes with
reduced dependency on glasses or contacts.

The Eye Institute of Utah is accepting new patients for vision correction
surgery with the new FDA approved LenSx custom cataract laser The
surgeons at The Eye Institute of Utah can now utilize the blade-free
cataract laser to perform RLE with greater precision and safety than ever
before.

Patients who undergo cataract surgery with implantation of a standard IOL
will likely have presbyopia the rest of their lives. However, if they choose to
have Custom Cataract Surgery with placement of a multifocal IOL they will
likely not need glasses for almost anything they do, far, near and in-
between. Cataract patients who elect to have Custom Cataract Surgery may
still use insurance for the standard cataract procedure but will pay for the
cost of the custom upgrade out of pocket.