Posted by: Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Latest News
At Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. William Segal and Dr. Marc Lay provide a full range of vision services for patients from all over the Atlanta area. These can include everything from relatively simple prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses to advanced ocular surgery to treat the most serious eye conditions. However, one of the things that we do best is perform cataract surgery. Used to help treat patients whose vision has been significantly affected by cataracts, this procedure relies on the use of extremely sophisticated medical devices called intraocular lens implants.
A cataract is a cloudy or opaque spot on the lens of the eye that gradually grows worse over time, slowly blurring and eventually completely obstructing vision. There are several different conditions that may cause cataracts, and although there are ways to help prevent them or slow their progression, once they begin to form there is really no way to cure them. Sooner or later a lens that has been affected by cataracts will need to be replaced. To accomplish this, Dr. Segal uses the most advanced technology for the treatment of cataracts, the LenSx® Laser System. First, a small incision is made in the lens capsule, then the old and damaged lens is removed and replaced with a new artificial intraocular lens implant, a permanent medical device that resembles a tiny contact lens.
Because every eye is unique, we use a variety of different intraocular lens types to address the individual needs of our patients. The least expensive and most commonly implanted are monofocal intraocular lenses (or IOLs), which are comparatively simple in design and provide good vision only in one specific range of distances. Patients who receive monofocal IOLs usually have them shaped to correct distance vision, so they still require eyeglasses for reading, computer use, and other close range tasks. More advanced types of intraocular lenses for cataracts, like multifocal IOLs are designed to correct vision at both distant and close ranges, while custom designed toric lenses can correct both distance vision and astigmatism in some patients. Finally, those who want the highest quality, most sophisticated lenses available frequently choose ReStor®premium IOLs. These technologically-advanced lenses are designed with apodized diffractive and refractive technology to allow for patients to have an easier time focusing at all distances. Many patients, after receiving ReStor® lenses, report that their vision has improved to the point that they no longer need glasses, even if they have used them for the majority of their lives. In some cases, patients who suffer from presbyopia, a common condition that makes it increasingly difficult for eyes to focus on nearby objects or text as they get older, report significant improvement in their vision as well. It is important to note, however, that the sophisticated and intricate design of the ReStor® lens makes it significantly more expensive than other lens types.
Cataracts can be very serious, but if they are caught early and treated by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Segal, their impact on your vision can be minimal. In fact, even though cataract surgery requires a great deal of skill and experience to perform, it is relatively quick and painless for the patient and has an extremely high success rate. If you are concerned that you may be developing cataracts, or if you have any other questions about your vision, please contact Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons today to schedule a comprehensive medical eye examination. Then we can determine exactly what may be wrong and figure out how best to treat it. For the latest updates on eye care, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ and keep your vision healthy.
