About Cataract Surgery

Understanding Cataracts | About Cataract Surgery | Lifestyle Lenses | Toric Lens Implants | IOL Self-Evaluation Test

Cataract Surgery Omaha, Nebraska

At our eye surgery center in Omaha, Nebraska, cataract removal is performed through a procedure called phacoemulsification. This is the simplest, safest, and most successful cataract treatment available today. Rest assured that you are in professional hands here at Brumm Eye & Laser Vision with this type of cataract surgery. You may be surprised to hear that cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures performed today. Before you start your journey into understanding cataract surgery the doctors here at Brumm Eye & Laser Vision would like to encourage you to read about the cataract surgery process and learn about new options for seeing better after the actual surgery. The process below will get you acquainted to the actual surgical process. Be sure to also visit our page on lifestyle or premium lens implants. 

Cataract Surgery Step 1 – The eye must be properly dilated and preparation of the surgical area using cleansers, a topical anesthetic is administered to the surface of the eye. 

Cataract Surgery Step 2 – The second step is to make a small hole in the clear cornea. A small incision of about 3 millimeters in length is then created where the ultrasonic device will be inserted. The front part of the lens envelope, known as the lens capsule, is carefully opened so that the lens material can be removed. 

Cataract Surgery Step 3 – The next step is to insert the small ultrasonic device into the eye and vacuum the cataract. The ultrasonic device then pulverizes the hardened and yellowed lens proteins. The pulverized material is simultaneously vacuumed from the eye.

Cataract Surgery Step 4  - Next, a folded intraocular lens specifically chosen by the surgeon to suit your individual needs is then inserted through the original incision and maneuvered into the lens capsule and then centered. The lens will remain inside your eye in this location without moving. Intraocular lenses cannot be felt or sensed in any way by the patient. 

Cataract Surgery Step 5  – The new lens then unfolds where your natural lens used to exist. The eye doctors here make sure it is positioned, centered, checked and the opening is self-sealing and closes without needing stitches. Once the proper positioning has taken place the surgery is completed.  

Advantages of  Using Topical Anesthesia

• Faster with greater patient comfort.
• No patient anxiety over receiving a deep injection next to the eyeball.
• Visual recovery begins immediately since the eye muscles aren’t paralyzed as with local block anesthesia.
• Eliminates potential complications such as perforation of the eye, hemorrhage or damage to the optic nerve.
• Eliminates need for an eye patch.

Advantages of No Stitch, Clear Corneal Incision

• No placement or rem oval of sutures.
• May be performed under local or topical anesthesia.
• Requires no patch.
• It is a bloodless incision.
• Reduces post-operative restrictions
• Improves post-operative vision and reduces post-op astigmatism.

After Cataract Surgery

Many patients are pleased to find that after No Stitch, No Needle cataract surgery their vision improvement begins almost immediately and they return home within a few hours. Patients may find their vision better than ever. However, some will need to wear glasses for reading and other activities. During the initial healing period there may be a few limitations on strenuous activities. Most people find they are able to return to a normal lifestyle immediately, plus start doing things poor cataract vision had restricted them from doing in the past. Many patients are amazed by the brilliance of colors, being able to read again or passing their drivers license exam.
 
Laser Surgery after Cataract Surgery

During cataract surgery a clear capsule is left in place to support the lens implant. In some cases this capsule may turn cloudy months or years following surgery. If this occurs, an outpatient laser procedure that is performed in our office will quickly restore good vision.

Considering Cataract Surgery

In the United States, cataract removal is one of the safest, most frequently performed eye surgeries, and more than 1 million procedures are performed each year. The decision to have cataract surgery should be made by you and the doctors at the Brumm Eye Laser Center. Usually, patients decide to have surgery when their vision is interfering with daily activities, like driving and reading. For each patient, this decision may be at various stages of cataract development. Please call the Brumm Eye Laser Center with any questions or to make an appointment at 572-2020 or 1-800-775-5909.

Cataract Surgery Timeline

• 1949 – Harold Ridley, M.D. implants first IOL in London England
• 1952 – First IOL implanted in United States (Chicago, IL)
• 1958 – Cornealius Binkhorst M.D., develops an iris clip intraocular implant
• 1963 – Peter Choyce, M.D. Develops anterior chamber implant
• 1967 – Charles Kelman introduces phacoemulsification and changes everything
• 1984 – Franco Verzella, M.D. proposes IOL imlantation to correct myopia
• 1990 – Mike McFarland, M.D. pioneers sutreless cataract surgery
• 1997 – FDA approves ARRAY multifocal
• 2003 – FDA approves first version Crystalens and first accommodating IOL
• 2005 – Alcon gets FDA aapproval for RESTOR – multifocal IOL
• 2008 – Technis Aspheric IOL gets FDA approval

If you are seeking cataract surgery in Omaha Nebraska the eye doctors at the Brumm Eye & Laser Vision can get you on the path to seeing better and seeing possibly without your previous level of dependency on glasses. For more information regarding the modern intraocular lens implants used by the doctors at Brumm Eye & Laser Vision please see our page on premium lens implants including the multifocal IOL lens known as AcrySof® ReSTOR® and the accommodating IOL known as the Crystalens®