Clearing Your Cloudy Vision
- Posted on: Feb 15 2019
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Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness across the globe. This vision condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy due to a build up of proteins over time affects over 22 million people over the age of 40 in the U.S. alone. With the increasing age of our population, this number is continuing to grow.
At The Eye Clinic, cataract replacement surgery is an incredibly fast procedure that has a phenomenal success rate. It returns crystal clear vision to our Portland patients, who often wonder why they delayed the surgery in the first place.
Here’s what’s involved in cataract surgery with Drs. Wilkins, Donohue, and Samples at The Eye Clinic.
How is cataract surgery performed?
The only treatment for a cataract-clouded lens is surgery to remove the lens and replace it with an artificial lens. If left untreated, the cataract will continue to progress, eventually leading to blindness in the eye. But there is no reason to wait, as cataract surgery is one of the safest, most effective surgeries in the world. In the U.S., the success rate with this surgery is over 98 percent.
At The Eye Clinic, we use minimally invasive, small-incision, no-stitch cataract surgery known as phacoemulsification (phaco) surgery. The surgery is remarkably fast, requiring only five to 10 minutes. Here’s how we do it.
The first step is for our computer system to create a 3D image of your eye for guidance. This allows our surgeons incredible accuracy when mapping the incision location. Next, we create the corneal incision and remove the anterior capsule of the lens. This gains access to the cataract-clouded lens. The incision is very small. A probe is then inserted and delivers ultrasound energy that breaks up the cloudy lens. At the same time, the probe uses suction to gently remove the small lens pieces. If you have astigmatism, at this point we may be able to create peripheral corneal incisions. These reduce the condition. The final step of the surgery is to insert the artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Today’s advanced IOLs are foldable and are inserted through the same small incision through which the original lens was removed. The small incision size doesn’t require any sutures; it will heal on its own.
How long will my results last?
Your cataract replacement surgery is permanent. The IOL will not cloud as your natural lens did. Also, depending on the IOL lens you chose, conditions that you formerly had such as near- or farsightedness may be fully corrected. You’ll enjoy your new clear vision for the rest of your life.
Isn’t it time to clear up your increasingly cloudy, cataract-addled vision? Call the team at The Eye Clinic, (503) 297-4718, to schedule your consultation.
Posted in: Cataracts
