Cataract Treatment

In the early stages of development, our specialists can often improve your vision by changing your glasses. But once cataracts advance, it is usually pointless to change glasses frequently. When you can no longer see well enough, we remove the cloudy lenses and replace them with new, clear lenses to help restore your vision.

• No-stitch surgery
• No-shot surgery
• Optical Coherence Biometry (OCB)
• Lens Implants
• Advanced lens implants
• Lens power calculation

 

No-stitch Surgery

Popular for the past 8-10 years, no-stitch surgery has become the procedure of choice for removing cataracts. Recovery is quicker and faster with a rapid return to good vision.

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No-shot Surgery

For more than ten years now, our doctors have been performing surgery using only eye drop anesthesia. Prior to this innovative technique, patients received an injection around the eye to numb the area before the procedure. Newer techniques have made it possible for our surgeons to provide a comfortable procedure for most patients with the use of eye drops alone. With the "topical" or eye drop anesthesia, no eye patch is needed after surgery. Sometimes patients tell us they can't even tell which eye had surgery an hour afterward!

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Optical Coherence Biometry (OCB)

After removal, we place new lens implants in the eyes to focus light on the retina. This implant remains in the eye indefinitely, and you never know it's there. However, if the power of the implant is not ideal, stronger glasses may be needed for best vision. We were among the first in Hawaii to provide the latest technology for measuring the eye in which a laser beam is used for the most accurate measurements. Using this technique, it is more likely your vision will be well focused after surgery.

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Lens Implants

As the cataract procedure has seen significant advances in recent years, the lens implants used to correct vision have also become more advanced. Recently, implants which allow many people a youthful range of vision for far and near without surgery have become available to more patients. Modern implants can be placed in the eye through a tiny incision because they can be folded. Once the implant is in place, it’s permanent and you never know it’s there. It can’t be felt, usually can’t be seen, and doesn’t need to be changed or cleaned. The standard lens implant is designed to provide good focus for distance vision, often without glasses. Most people who receive the standard lens implant do need glasses after cataract removal, either for reading or for clearest vision for both distance and reading. Enhanced cataract surgery with the use of advanced implants, however, often provide excellent vision for a range of vision without glasses.

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Advanced Lens Implants

Advanced lens implants can help reduce dependence on glasses after surgery. New advanced technology implants have recently been developed which can help provide good distance and reading vision after surgery. Other implants can reduce astigmatism. These implants can require special measurements and procedures to provide best possible vision without glasses. They are no better for your eye than the standard implant, but can provide a greater range of focus without glasses. These special implants are associated with some potential side effects and cost more. Be sure to ask your doctor about them if you’re interested in reducing your dependence on glasses after surgery.

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Lens Power Calculation

Good focus after surgery depends on the choice of the proper lens implant power. Most people prefer clear distance focus and use of reading glasses. Others choose to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses through enhanced cataract surgery with advanced lens implants. You should discuss your preferred focus after the cataract is removed with your surgeon.

The power if the implant is determined by measurements of the length of the eye and of the power of the cornea of the eye done before surgery. A computer is then used to calculate the appropriate lens power for your eye.

Measurements of the eye are not always exact. Sometimes, our calculations do not give us the exact lens power needed for the vision you would like without glasses, even if you choose an advanced implant designed to reduce the need for glasses. Sometimes astigmatism can keep you from having good vision without glasses after cataract removal. Many people do still need glasses after cataract surgery for the clearest vision. Rarely, if you are uncomfortable with your focus after the procedure, further procedures can improve the focus.

It is more difficult to find the correct implant power if you’ve had previous refractive surgery such as LASIK or PRK. If you have had LASIK or PRK, please inform your doctor prior to the day of surgery.

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