Cataract Services at Graystone Eye

What Is A Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the naturally clear lens of your eye. This lens is inside the eye and is found right behind your iris - the colored part of your eye. Cataracts are a normal part of aging, but, left untreated, they can cause gradual loss of vision or even blindness. The surgeons at Graystone Eye can help restore vision through an ultrasound procedure called "phacoemulsification."

In addition to standard lens implants historically used for cataracts, Graystone now offers the ReSTOR^® lens for better vision at all ranges, delivering a high level of glasses-free vision. FDA approved for use in the US since 2005, over 21 million ReSTOR® lenses have been implanted worldwide since 1994, making it the most commonly used implant in the world.

What To Expect On The
Day Of Your First Appointment

Your doctor or optometrist will schedule an appointment for you with the Graystone eye specialist who will perform your surgery.

On the day of your appointment, please bring a list of all your medications, as well as your Medicare and insurance cards. It will be necessary to arrange for someone to drive you home after your appointment, as your eyes will need to be dilated and it may be difficult for you to drive. A complete eye examination and medical history will be done, as well as appropriate eye tests and specialized eye measurements. This will allow the surgeon and his team to gather all the necessary information for performing your surgery.

The nurse will schedule your procedure at the hospital or surgery center and provide detailed instructions regarding what to expect.

Because only local anesthesia with mild sedation is used, even patients with severe chronic illnesses can safely have their cataracts removed. The surgeons at Graystone Eye always consult with your medical doctor if there is any question regarding your general health.

What Happens On The Day Of Surgery?

On the day of your surgery, you will report to the hospital or surgery center at the scheduled time. You will receive all the necessary medications and anesthetics.

Cataract surgery is performed by a special ultrasound procedure called "phacoemulsification" which allows the surgeon to remove the cataract through a very small incision. Usually there are no sutures involved. The cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens allowing the vision to become clear once again. Nearsightedness and farsightedness can also be corrected during this surgery by using the appropriate power of the intraocular lens.

Since cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia there is no discomfort and you will be awake for the entire procedure.

The eye is usually patched for a few hours after the surgery. Normal activities can usually be resumed very quickly.

What Happens After My Surgery?

Following surgery you will be given your postoperative instructions and discharged. It will be necessary to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery as it will be difficult for you to drive. Your eye will be examined the following day by either your surgeon or optometrist. Your eye doctor may also prescribe new glasses in 4 to 6 weeks.

Ask your Graystone physician for more information about cataracts, or visit these web sites:

National Eye Institute

Vision Channel

ReSTOR^®