Cataract Lens Options

Cataract surgery, both laser and traditional, is performed to replace a cloudy, foggy lens (cataract) with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Artificial lenses are made and placed into an eye using incredibly advanced technologies and techniques, and they serve to function just like the natural lens but without the cloudiness that can impair a patient's vision. Along with cataract removal, intraocular lenses may also enhance an individual's overall quality of sight and improve any refractive errors. When you've been diagnosed with cataracts, or if you suspect that you may have a cataract, contact Wang Vision Institute in Nashville, TN to learn how our skilled team of ophthalmologists can improve your eye health with IOLs and laser cataract surgery.

YAG Laser Capsulotomy

In certain instances, patients may experience hazy vision several years after having cataract removal surgery. This phenomenon occurs when the capsule (which is left intact after the procedure to hold the patient's artificial lens in place) produces cloudy cells that blur their line of sight. Along with cloudy eyesight, some also experience glare problems when driving at night. This common condition is known as posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and typically occurs months or years after surgery. Thankfully, PCO can be treated simply and easily with a noninvasive laser procedure called YAG capsulotomy.

Cataracts Explained

Cataracts, by definition, are a clouding of the eye's lens that results in reduced vision and over time, complete blindness if not detected early and treated correctly. For most people, cataracts are an unavoidable part of the aging process and initially develop after the age of 50, the approximate age when the proteins within the lens of the eye typically start to deteriorate and/or lump together. The eye's opacity gradually worsens, which prevents light from hitting the retina correctly. Developing cataracts is quite common — in fact, it's so common that cataract surgery is the most frequently performed procedure in the country. Close to two million men and women receive cataract surgery a year. The disease can form fairly slowly — so individuals in the onset stages typically are unaware of it. Cataracts are a major reason why attending comprehensive eye exams a minimum of every other year is critical to your overall ocular health.

Laser Cataract Surgery

What is Laser Cataract Surgery?