Cataracts are a common age-related eye condition that occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. As the lens becomes less clear, it can cause blurred vision, glare, difficulty seeing at night, and colors that appear faded. Cataracts usually develop gradually and are painless, but eventually they can interfere with everyday activities such as driving, reading, working, or enjoying hobbies.
At Jahnle Eye Associates, our ophthalmologists provide comprehensive cataract evaluations and personalized treatment recommendations based on your vision, eye health, and lifestyle. When cataracts begin to interfere with your daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended to restore clearer vision.
What Are Cataracts?
The natural lens of the eye focuses light onto the retina, allowing you to see clearly. With age, proteins within the lens can begin to break down and collect together, causing the lens to become cloudy. This clouding is called a cataract.
Age is the most common risk factor for cataracts, but they can also develop as a result of an eye injury, certain medications, medical conditions such as diabetes, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, smoking, or other factors.
Common Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts can affect each person differently. Common symptoms include:
- Blurred, hazy, or cloudy vision
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Difficulty seeing while driving at night
- Halos around lights
- Faded or less vibrant colors
- Difficulty reading small print
- Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
- Difficulty seeing clearly even with your best glasses or contact lenses
If these changes begin to affect your daily activities, it may be time to discuss cataract surgery with your ophthalmologist.
When Is Cataract Surgery Recommended?
Cataract surgery is generally recommended when a cataract begins to interfere with your vision and quality of life. There is no specific level of cataract development that determines when surgery is necessary. Instead, your ophthalmologist will consider how your vision is affecting activities such as driving, reading, watching television, using a computer, or performing work and hobbies.
During your cataract evaluation, your ophthalmologist will assess the cataract as well as the overall health of your eyes. Together, you can determine whether cataract surgery is appropriate and what type of lens implant may best meet your vision goals.
How Are Cataracts Diagnosed?
A cataract can be diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination. Your ophthalmologist will evaluate your visual acuity and examine the natural lens and other structures of the eye.
A dilated eye examination allows your doctor to examine the lens, retina, and other structures in greater detail. Additional testing may also be performed, including tonometry to measure eye pressure and other diagnostic testing to evaluate your overall eye health.
These evaluations are important not only for diagnosing cataracts, but also for identifying other eye conditions that may affect your vision or your results after cataract surgery.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and is designed to remove the cloudy natural lens and replace it with an artificial lens implant.
During surgery, the eye is numbed with anesthesia. A very small incision is made in the eye, and an ultrasonic instrument is used to break the cloudy lens into small pieces. The lens fragments are gently removed, and an artificial intraocular lens, or IOL, is placed inside the eye.
The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis, and patients return home the same day. Because of the anesthesia and the temporary effects of the procedure, you will need someone to drive you home after surgery.
What Can I Expect After Cataract Surgery?
Most patients experience a relatively quick recovery after cataract surgery. You may have mild irritation, a foreign-body sensation, itching, light sensitivity, or temporarily blurred vision during the first few days.
Prescription eye drops are used during the healing process to reduce inflammation and the risk of infection. Your surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding your eye drops, follow-up appointments, and activities during recovery.
Your vision may continue to improve as your eye heals. Your surgeon will monitor your progress and let you know when you can safely return to your normal activities.
Choosing Your Lens Implant
One of the most important decisions during cataract surgery is choosing the intraocular lens (IOL) that will replace your natural lens. Different IOL technologies are designed to provide different ranges of vision and address conditions such as astigmatism.
Your surgeon will consider your eye health, lifestyle, visual needs, and preferences when recommending an IOL.
Monofocal IOLs
A monofocal IOL is designed to provide clear vision at one primary distance, most commonly distance vision. Patients who choose a monofocal lens may still need glasses for reading, computer work, or other activities requiring vision at different distances.
Monofocal lenses remain an excellent option for many cataract patients and are generally considered the standard medically necessary lens implant.
Toric IOLs for Astigmatism
Patients who have astigmatism may benefit from a toric IOL. These lenses are specifically designed to correct astigmatism and can improve uncorrected distance vision while reducing dependence on glasses. Dr. Richard Jahnle and Dr. Kelly Krespan implant various J&J Vision Toric IOLs including the TECNIS Toric and Eyehance Toric, as well as various Alcon Toric IOLs, including Clareon and AcrySof IQ.
Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) IOLs
Extended depth of focus, or EDOF, lenses are designed to provide a broader range of vision than a traditional monofocal lens, particularly from intermediate to distance. Dr. Richard Jahnle and Dr. Kelly Krespan implant J&J Vision EDOF IOLs including the TECNIS PureSee, TECNIS Sympfony and TECNIS Odyssey, as well as various Alcon Toric IOLs, including the Clareon Vivity IOL.
For some patients, an EDOF lens may reduce dependence on glasses for activities such as using a computer, looking at a dashboard, or viewing objects at a distance. EDOF lenses are not appropriate for everyone, and your surgeon will determine whether this technology is a good option based on your individual eye health and visual goals.
Multifocal and Trifocal IOLs
Multifocal and trifocal IOLs are designed to provide multiple points of focus, including near, intermediate, and distance vision. These lenses may reduce a patient’s dependence on glasses after cataract surgery.
Dr. Jahnle and Dr. Krespan offers advanced lens technologies including the Alcon Clareon Panoptix.
Premium IOLs are not right for every patient. Conditions such as certain retinal diseases, glaucoma, significant dry eye disease, or other eye conditions may affect whether a premium lens is recommended. Dr. Jahnle and Dr. Krespan can explain to you if they think you are an ideal candidate for a premium lens implant or if they think you would benefit more from a monofocal IOL. If you have astigmatism, that may also need to be addressed as part of your surgical plan.
Which Cataract Lens Is Right for Me?
There is no single lens implant that is best for every patient. The right IOL depends on your eye health, lifestyle, visual priorities, and how much you would like to reduce your dependence on glasses.
During your cataract evaluation, your ophthalmologist will discuss the available lens options and help you understand the potential benefits and limitations of each one. The goal is to select the lens that provides the best match for your individual vision needs.
Cataract Surgery at Jahnle Eye Associates
Dr. Richard Jahnle and Dr. Kelly Krespan have extensive experience performing cataract and lens implant surgery. Our team provides comprehensive cataract evaluations, advanced lens options, and individualized surgical planning to help patients achieve their best possible vision after cataract surgery.
If you are experiencing blurred vision, glare, difficulty driving at night, or other changes that may be related to cataracts, schedule a cataract evaluation with Jahnle Eye Associates to discuss your options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cataract Surgery
How do I know if I am ready for cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery may be appropriate when your vision begins interfering with your daily activities, even when you are wearing your best glasses or contact lenses. Difficulty driving at night, reading small print, watching television, using a computer, or performing hobbies may indicate that it is time to discuss surgery with your ophthalmologist.
How long does cataract surgery take?
Cataract surgery itself is typically a short procedure and is performed on an outpatient basis. Your surgical team will provide specific information about how long you should expect to be at the surgery center, including preparation and recovery time.
How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?
Many patients experience a relatively quick recovery and can resume many normal activities soon after surgery. Your surgeon will provide individualized instructions regarding exercise, swimming, makeup, driving, and other activities.
Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?
That depends on the type of IOL selected and your individual visual needs. Monofocal lenses typically provide clear vision at one primary distance, while toric, EDOF, multifocal, and trifocal lenses may reduce dependence on glasses for additional distances. No lens can guarantee that you will never need glasses.
Does insurance cover cataract surgery?
Insurance coverage depends on your individual plan and whether your cataract meets the criteria for medically necessary surgery. Standard monofocal lenses are generally covered when cataract surgery is medically necessary. Premium lens options, including certain astigmatism-correcting and multifocal lenses, may involve additional out-of-pocket costs.
For more information, see our page on [Insurance Coverage for Cataract Surgery].
Cataract Surgery – Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to consider cataract surgery is when you cataracts begins to affect your activities of daily life. This could include difficulty seeing while driving at night or watching television, difficulty seeing small print on your cell phone, medicine bottle, or labels, or difficulty seeing the computer screen.
Cataract Surgery has a relatively speedy recovery, but there are a few minor restrictions after cataract surgery. Patients are advised to avoid swimming for 1 week and should not put makeup around the eye for 1 week after surgery. Patients are also required to use eye drops after surgery (usually up to 1 month after surgery). You may resume all other normal daily activities as soon as the next day after surgery.
Most surgeons will have you use eye drops for 4 full weeks after surgery. After surgery, there are 3 different types of drops that you will be using (Antibiotic, Anti-inflammatory and Steroid). These drops will be used up to 4 times per day for the first week after surgery and will taper off each week until complete. Some doctors also require patients to start using eye drops in the day or two leading up to surgery.
