Cataract Surgery
FOCUSED ON YOUR VISION, DEDICATED TO YOUR CARE
At Focus Eye Care & Surgery, Dr. Neelofar Ghaznawi specializes in laser cataract surgery with customized lens implants, allowing our patients from Queens, Long Island, NYC, and throughout the New York City area see the world more clearly than ever before.
What are Cataracts?
The natural lenses of the eye are clear, but the proteins in them start to break down at about age 40. The broken down proteins then clump together, clouding the lens. This is a cataract. Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process.
According to the National Eye Institute,
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Cataract Data and Statistics
National Eye Institute
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up to 50%
of Americans will develop at least one cataract by age 75. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that more than 20.5 million Americans over the age of 40 currently have
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Eye Health Statistics
American Academy of Ophthalmology
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cataracts.
Cataract Symptoms
Cataracts develop slowly, and patients may not notice initial symptoms. Over time, the lens of the eye grows more cloudy, leading to symptoms of cataracts such as:
- Blurry vision
- Faded appearance to colors
- Increased light sensitivity
- Increased halos and glares at night
- Difficulty driving at night
- Difficulty seeing in low light
-
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Cataracts
Cleveland Clinic
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Double vision
Cataract Treatment: Cataract Surgery
Cataracts develop slowly. At first, patients may find that adjusting lighting and updating their prescription for eyeglasses and contacts helps them see more clearly. Eventually, however, as larger clumps of proteins cover the lens of the eye, cataracts will progress to the point that vision and daily activities are significantly affected.
When this happens, the only way to restore clear vision is cataract surgery. During this very common procedure, the cloudy lens of the eye is removed and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL).
How is Laser Cataract Surgery Different?
During traditional cataract surgery, a manual blade called a microkeratome is used to make an incision in the eye and break apart the cloudy natural lens. This is both safe and effective, but advancements in all-laser, bladeless cataract surgery provide additional benefits to our patients, including improved outcomes.
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Study: Effective lens position advances accuracy Femtosecond laser brings greater refractive predictability into hands of cataract surgeons
Guttman Krader C
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Scientific research
shows that the likelihood of achieving 20/20 vision after cataract surgery is significantly higher when a patient undergoes laser cataract surgery vs manual cataract surgery.
Benefits of laser cataract surgery include:
- Astigmatism Correction: Laser cataract surgery offers the advantage of correcting astigmatism as part of the procedure. This technique reshapes the cornea, which in cases of astigmatism is unevenly curved, resembling the shape of a football rather than a basketball. The result is sharper vision, potentially without the need for glasses.
- Enhanced Precision with Corneal Incisions: Unlike traditional cataract surgery that relies on manual incisions made with a blade, laser cataract surgery utilizes advanced laser technology to achieve more precise and controlled corneal incisions. This method enhances the cataract surgeon’s accuracy and customization of the incision.
- Optimal Intraocular Lens Placement: The laser aids in performing a key step of cataract surgery — creating a capsulorhexis. This is the circular cut made in the lens capsule, which is crucial for accessing and removing the cataract. The laser achieves a consistently perfect circle, which is essential for the precise placement of the new intraocular lens implant (IOL), leading to more predictable visual outcomes.
- Streamlined Cataract Fragmentation and Removal: Laser technology simplifies the cataract removal process by pre-fragmenting the cataract. This method softens the lens, facilitating quicker and easier extraction compared to the traditional approach.
- Quicker Visual Recovery: The use of laser technology in cataract surgery reduces the need for ultrasound energy, which is typically needed to break up the lens. This reduction minimizes eye trauma and swelling, leading to faster recovery and quicker improvement in vision.
Why Choose Focus Eye Care for Cataract Surgery?
When it comes to cataract surgery, Dr. Neelofar Ghaznawi’s expertise in both general and specialized ophthalmic care makes Focus Eye Care a top choice. As a board-certified ophthalmologist and cornea specialist, Dr. Ghaznawi brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to each procedure, particularly in the implantation of astigmatism and presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses. Her commitment to patient education and individualized treatment planning ensures that each patient receives the highest quality care. Dr. Ghaznawi’s active involvement in professional organizations and her position as an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai highlight her dedication to excellence in ophthalmology. Dr. Ghaznawi conducts her surgeries at our convenient Queens location.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
Your consultation with a board-certified ophthalmologist at our practice is the key to feeling well-prepared for your cataract surgery. Here, your eye doctor will conduct a thorough eye exam and confirm your cataract diagnosis. You will learn more about the cataract surgery procedure as well as the IOL options available to optimize your vision.
When your surgery has been scheduled, you will receive detailed instructions about preparing for your procedure as well as what you can expect during the cataract surgery recovery period.
The Cataract Surgery Procedure
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that is performed on one eye at a time. Before your surgery begins, anesthetic eye drops will be used to numb your eye, and you may also be given an oral sedative. A device will be used to hold your eye open so you aren’t concerned about blinking.
To begin the cataract surgery procedure, the eye surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to make very small incisions in the cornea and to correct any minor astigmatism. The cloudy lens of the eye is broken up and removed (this is called phacoemulsification), then the artificial intraocular lens is positioned. No sutures are needed after cataract surgery: the incisions in the cornea are so small that they will self-seal.
Cataract Surgery Recovery
After cataract surgery, your eye will be protected with an eye shield, which you should wear when you are lying down and sleeping. You may experience some blurry vision at first, but this will quickly resolve and you will notice a significant improvement in your vision now that the cloudy lens of your eye has been replaced with a clear artificial lens.
You may feel some discomfort, itching, pressure, and/or soreness, but you should not feel pain after your cataract surgery. You will be prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops to use during cataract surgery recovery. It is important to closely follow your eye doctor’s instructions for these medications.
You will return to our office the day after your procedure for a follow-up visit with your cataract surgeon. Most of our patients feel ready to get back to their normal activities within 24-28 hours of their procedure. Your doctor will advise you to refrain from strenuous activities for a couple of weeks to ensure that your eye heals properly.
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FAQs About Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world and has an exceptional safety rating and a success rate of more than 99%. However, there are risks and side effects associated with any surgical procedure.
Side effects and risks of cataract surgery may include:
- Infection
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Vision loss
- Double vision
- Changes in eye pressure
-
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Is Cataract Surgery with Vision-Correcting IOLs Safe?
American Refractive Surgery Council
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Retinal detachment
Laser cataract surgery takes 30 minutes or less per eye. Including preparation for surgery and observation after surgery, you can expect to spend around 2-3 hours at our eye center on the day of your cataract surgery procedure.
You can still undergo cataract surgery even if you have previously had refractive error laser vision correction surgeries, including LASIK, PRK, or any other laser eye surgery. But, you can assist your ophthalmologist better by giving them all information on your medical history to help them decide the best intraocular lens power to attain the best possible vision correction.
Immediately after the surgery, your vision may improve, but it may take a few days before your eyes have completely adjusted, so you must avoid driving until your next follow-up. Once your ophthalmologist confirms that you have recovered well, you can resume driving.
Yes, cataract surgery can completely restore vision, but your ability to focus on near or far objects depends upon the type of intraocular lens used. Patients who opt for standard IOLs during cataract surgery may still need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to see clearly at all ranges.
If your eye doctor has determined that your cataracts have progressed to the point where your vision and daily activities are affected, traditional cataract surgery with standard IOLs is deemed medically necessary and is covered by insurance. If you choose to further optimize your vision with advanced IOLs, you may incur some out-of-pocket expenses. Likewise, your insurer may not cover the full cost of laser cataract surgery, which can be seen as an elective upgrade.
We will be happy to help you learn more about your policy and insurance coverage for cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery permanently replaces the natural lens of the eye, so it is a permanent solution for cataracts. While cataracts will never come back after surgery, some patients do begin to experience cloudy vision after their procedure. Sometimes this is referred to as “secondary cataracts,” but it’s actually a different condition called posterior capsular opacification (PCO). Our eye surgeons can easily treat PCO or “secondary cataracts” with a quick in-office procedure.
Are You a Candidate for
Vision Correction?
Whether you just need a general eye exam, or if you are interested in reducing or eliminating your need for glasses or contacts, our team is here to help! Contact us to book an appointment today!
The doctors at Focus Eye Care & Surgery have reviewed and approved this content.
Page Updated:
1 National Eye Institute. Cataract Data and Statistics. Available: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-campaigns-and-resources/eye-health-data-and-statistics/cataract-data-and-statistics. Accessed May 10, 2024.
2 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye Health Statistics. Available: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/eye-health-statistics#. Accessed May 10, 2024.
3 Cleveland Clinic. Cataracts. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts. Accessed May 10, 2024.
4 Guttman Krader C. Study: Effective lens position advances accuracy Femtosecond laser brings greater refractive predictability into hands of cataract surgeons. Ophthalmology Times. Available: https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/study-effective-lens-position-advances-accuracy. Accessed May 10, 2024.
5 American Refractive Surgery Council. Is Cataract Surgery with Vision-Correcting IOLs Safe? Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/refractive-surgery-procedures/cataract-surgery-with-vision-correcting-iols/is-cataract-surgery-with-vision-correcting-iols-safe. Accessed May 10, 2024.