Cataract Surgery &
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A cataract is the clouding of a transparent part of your eye called the lens. A normally clear lens focuses light onto the retina, which is located in the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy and opaque, light cannot pass through to the retina, resulting in blurry or cloudy vision.

The aging process is most directly associated with cataracts. As the body ages, the normally transparent lens begins to harden and becomes cloudy. There is increasing evidence that lifelong exposure to ultraviolet light contributes to the formation of cataracts.

Over half of all people aged 65 or older have some degree of cataract development. In addition, eye injuries, certain medications, diabetes, kidney disease, smoking, and high blood pressure may contribute to the formation of cataracts.

Since there is presently no medical treatment to prevent cataracts or reverse them once they develop, the only treatment for cataracts is to surgically remove them.

Today’s cataract surgery is a marvel of medical technology. The most innovative, modern method available today is bladeless laser cataract surgery using the LenSx® femtosecond laser. The computer-controlled laser allows Dr. Short and Dr. Ullrich to plan and perform your surgery to exact individualized specifications – a level of precision not attainable with traditional cataract surgery methods. This state-of-the-art procedure is safe, effective, and virtually painless.

Using the bladeless laser, our cataract surgeons gently remove your cloudy lens through a circular incision and an intraocular lens is then carefully implanted to restore your vision. The laser emulsifies the cataract for easier removal and allows our ophthalmologists to use a lower level of ultrasound energy to remove the cataract, which reduces the risk of thermal injury to tissues inside the eye.

Computer-assisted laser cataract surgery also enables the surgeon to more accurately place the intraocular lens implant, which improves visual outcomes.

Cataract surgery is quick and effective and offers a rapid recovery time. In most cases, patients are able to return to work and their normal activities the next day. Our cataract surgeons perform laser-assisted cataract surgery at a fully licensed ambulatory surgical center that is located in Creve Coeur. An additional fully licensed and nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center is located in Washington.

To find out if you’re a candidate for this revolutionary procedure, make an appointment with one of our cataract surgeons in Washington or Creve Coeur, Missouri.

The newest TECNIS intraocular lens (IOL) is an excellent choice for those with cataracts and presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, a condition in which nearby objects become blurry.

Approved by the FDA in July 2016, this lens is the first and only extended range of vision IOL to provide vision correction across multiple distances. This means that you won’t have to wear reading glasses or contacts after cataract surgery. Another version of the lens, the TECNIS Symfony Toric IOL, corrects astigmatism as well.

This IOL is used to treat cataracts as well as provide additional vision correction for near- and farsighted patients. According to studies, nearly 9 out of 10 people who use the TECNIS Multifocal IOLs do not need to wear eyeglasses after cataract surgery.

If you or someone you know has cataracts, know you are not alone as millions of others around the world suffer from vision loss due to cataracts. During cataract surgery, the TECNIS Toric Intraocular Lens replaces the cloudy natural lens. This type of IOL lens helps people with astigmatism, and allows light to enter the eye, helping you to see clearer, improving your vision overall.

The unique design of this lens allows for light to be distributed over five optical zones for quality vision at any distance. FDA clinical studies revealed that 80% of patients who had ReSTOR implants no longer needed glasses or contacts, and 94% didn’t need glasses or contacts while driving or reading the newspaper. The new Multifocal Toric with ACTIVEFOCUS technology was approved by the FDA in March 2017

This lens implant can provide patients with two key benefits simultaneously: It can restore single-distance vision after a cataract is removed, plus reduce or eliminate astigmatism (blurry vision). AcrySof toric implants are the most widely used in the world; to date over 25 million have been placed.

The Crystalens is the first and only FDA-approved “accommodating” lens implant. This revolutionary lens has the ability to change shape, allowing it to focus on near, intermediate, and far objects. In FDA studies, over 98% of patients who had Crystalens implants achieved vision of 20/40 or better.