Cataracts are oftentimes associated with the aging process and, according to the
National Eye Institute [NEI], nearly 68.3 percent of Americans 80 and older had
cataracts , with projections that 50.2 million cataract patients will be seeking help
in the year 2050.
Modern cataract surgery procedures for the most part produce excellent visual outcomes
to more than 3 million Americans each year.
Typical symptoms that indicate you have a cataract problem are blurred vision, clouded
vision, light sensitivity and dim colors. The purpose of this lens is to bend (refract) light
rays that come into the eye to help you see.
The surgery, which takes approx. 15 minutes, removes the lens inside your eye that has
become cloudy and replaces it with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens, to
restore long-lasting clear vision.
Today, a high-frequency ultrasound device breaks up the cloudy lens into small pieces,
which are then gently removed from the eye with suction. Sometimes laser-assisted
technology is utilized to remove the lens pieces.
Called phacoemulsification or "phaco," this procedure can be performed with smaller
incisions than previous surgical techniques for cataract removal, promoting faster
healing and reducing the risk of cataract surgery complications such as retinal
Once the cloudy lens has been removed, the surgeon inserts a clear intraocular lens
behind the iris and pupil in the same location as the natural lens had been situated. The
surgeon then closes the incision in the eye and a protective shield is placed over the
eye for protection during the cataract surgery recovery period.
Cataract surgery is performed on an out-patient basis and does not typically require an
overnight stay at the hospital or medical facility. Recovery time for cataract surgery is
about a month.