Cataracts:
At birth, the lens of the human eye is clear and soft, but with age, the lens becomes increasingly cloudy and hardened. As this natural process progresses, it may cause visual symptoms such as blurred vision, glare, or reduced clarity. A cataract is the medical word for the lens of the eye when it has become cloudy. Almost everyone eventually develops a cataract with age. However, the formation of a cataract can occur more quickly with sunlight exposure, certain medications, eye injury, or medical diseases such as diabetes.
When Do I Need Cataract Surgery?
Eventually, however, the cataract becomes cloudy enough to cause visual symptoms that cannot be corrected with glasses alone. At this point, cataract surgery is the only option to improve the quality of the vision. In most situations, cataract surgery is an elective surgery, and the goal of the surgery is to improve the quality of vision. There are some rare situations, however, where the cataract must be removed for the health of the eye. At the time of surgery, the natural lens is removed with a technique called phacoemulsification that utilizes ultrasound energy, and an intraocular lens (IOL) is then placed into the eye. The IOL can stay inside the eye forever. Cataract surgery for most patients can be done with mild sedation as a same-day surgery. Dr. Lawrence Perlmutter and Dr. David Perlmutter have performed over 20,000 cataract surgeries combined.
Our goal is custom cataract surgery that fits your lifestyle and your needs. We therefore offer expertise in basic single vision lenses, as well as premium advanced technology IOLs (Toric; Enhanced Depth of focus IOLs such as Vivity and Symfony; and multifocal IOLs such as Panoptix and Synergy) to reduce dependency on glasses. For patients interested in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, Dr. David Perlmutter, named one of the “rising stars” in ophthalmology by the World Ophthalmology Congress and as one of the country’s top 150 ophthalmologists by Newsweek Magazine, has lectured internationally on the procedure. His surgical outcomes are among the best nationwide.
Meet your Surgeons:
Dr. David Perlmutter Dr. Lawrence Perlmutter
The Intraocular Lenses:
There are multiple types of lenses that can be placed in the eye during surgery, but not all patients are candidates for all IOL types. Using cutting-edge technology and a thorough complete eye exam, each eye is evaluated carefully to provide the best possible care and to inform the patient of the options. Based on your needs and individual nature of your eye, the doctor can recommend an IOL customized for you:
Types of Intraocular Lenses:
Basic Single Vision IOL (covered by insurance):
This IOL can improve vision at either distance or near (but not both), and most patients generally require glasses for optimizing both near and distance vision after surgery
Advanced Technology/Premium options (not covered by insurance)
- Astigmatism-correcting (Toric) IOL or femtosecond laser-assisted astigmatism correction: For patients with astigmatism, this option decreases dependence on glasses for distance vision alone. Reading glasses are still required for seeing anything the person can touch. Technis Toric Pamphlet
- Vivity Extended Depth of Focus IOL: Improves vision for distance and intermediate (arms length) vision. There is little increased risk of glare/halos/starbursts at night with this lens. Most patients will still require reading glasses for close work and possibly for some intermediate work. Vivity Pamphlet
- Tecnis Symfony Extended Depth of Focus IOL: Improves vision for distance, intermediate, and limited near range. There is a risk of soft glare/halos/starbursts at night with this lens. Most patients will still require reading glasses for small print near vision. Symfony Pamphlet
- Panoptix Trifocal IOL: Decreases dependence on glasses for distance, intermediate, and near vision. Vision at different distances does not require looking through different parts of the lens. There is a risk of glare/halos/starbursts at night with this lens. Panoptix Pamphlet
- Synergy Trifocal IOL: Decreases dependence on glasses for distance, intermediate, and near vision. Vision at different distances does not require looking through different parts of the lens. There is a risk of glare/halos/starbursts at night with this lens. Synergy Pamphlet
For more information, visit our FAQ page, schedule a consultation, read about Our Technology, or check out additional resources through the American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Smart page.