A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that can impact vision a little or a lot, depending on its severity. Believed to be just a normal effect of aging, cataracts mostly affect older adults, though a family history or congenital condition may put younger people at risk as well. Your lifestyle often changes drastically if you develop cataracts: you may not be able to read books or watch TV, your driving ability may be impaired to the point that it isn’t safe anymore and you may deal with irritating double vision or light sensitivity. It’s not surprising, then, that many people with cataracts opt for refractive cataract surgery.

About Refractive Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery has been around for quite a while, and some things haven’t changed-like the fact that there’s no way to remove a cataract from the lens without removing the lens itself. So during any surgery for cataracts, the patient’s natural lens will be replaced with a new, clear lens. Refractive cataract surgery, however, is relatively new, and its goal is a bit more aggressive: to eliminate the cataract while also improving patients’ overall vision. The end result is that many people who need glasses and contacts before surgery may be able to toss them afterward, thanks to the new generation of intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Choosing IOLs

There are several versions of IOL available for patients today:

* Crystalens is unique because it attaches directly to the ciliary muscles, allowing the eye muscles to move the lens. These IOLs move naturally with your eyes to give you a clear picture of objects at all distances.
* ReSTOR lenses contain zones in concentric circles that allow the eyes to see images clearly both up close and far away.
* Tecnis, like ReSTOR, has concentric rings for multiple-distance viewing. It is also foldable, allowing the surgeon to insert it through a small incision.

Your surgeon will go over the pros and cons of each IOL and help you decide which is right for your anatomy and lifestyle.

Additional Benefits of Surgery

Removing the cloudiness associated with cataracts is, of course, the primary aim of surgery. But with today’s IOLs, refractive cataract surgery can also help with nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as these conditions:

* Presbyopia. This is a condition, affecting everyone beginning in middle age, makes it tougher to focus on objects up close. All of the lenses above offer presbyopia treatment.
* Astigmatism. This condition is the main reason people used to need glasses or contacts after surgery. Lenses known as toric IOLs are now available to treat astigmatism during surgery.

During your free LASIK screening our cataract screening, the Houston LASIK doctor all answer any questions you have and cover all risks and benefits in detail.If you have been living with imperfect vision and have been dependent on glasses or contacts for years, LASIK can be each truly remarkable and life changing procedure. Their office not only provides Laser eye surgery but also Lasik eye surgery Houston.

LASIK surgery is a laser vision correction procedure approved for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and in some cases, presbyopia correction. Before making your decision, learn about the LASIK procedure, its benefits, and its risks, and discuss any questions you have with your doctor. It can treat both myopia and hyperopia with or without astigmatism.

The surgery is worthwhile for anyone who is unhappy wearing glasses or contact lenses. The surgery is best suited for healthy patients who are at least 18 years of age. The surgery may now also be an option for presbyopia correction; the surgery can correct one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close vision in a procedure known as Monovision.

At the vision correction centers, surgery begins after the patient is made comfortable with numbing anesthetic eye drops. The surgery itself is virtually painless, and results can be seen immediately. Those who found out about LASIK eye surgery open their once blurry eyes and are instantly able to see the alarm clock and the beautiful morning – no glasses and no contacts.

It’s important to be aware that the surgery is not a guarantee of perfect vision, and some patients may require additional surgery to further enhance their vision. And there may be complications. We don’t know the long-term effects of the surgery. However, the vast majority of patients who have undergone laser eye surgery are happy with the results. In addition to general ophthalmology care and regular eye exams, eye surgeons usually offer their patients the latest vision correction procedures, including LASIK, Custom LASIK, PRK, Intacs for Keratoconus, and Cataract Surgery.

LASIK eye surgery, or Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis, has changed the way millions of Americans have viewed the world for several years now. Before making your decision, learn all you can about the procedure, its benefits, and its risks, and the cost of laser eye surgery. Discuss any questions you have with your eye doctor or laser vision surgeon.

At Hines-Sight, they specialize in bringing clear vision to Denver, Colorado, by offering the latest in laser vision correction and a complete range of eye care procedures. Let them help bring your world into focus with LASIK eye surgery and other laser vision correction procedures. Hines-Sight offers the most advanced technology, utilizing Wavefront-guided, customized laser refractive surgery with the Visx Star4 and Nidek EC-5000 Excimer Laser. In Denver, Hines-Sight was one of the first laser eye surgery centers to procure this amazing new laser.

William L. Hines, M.D., opened Hines-Sight in 1983, he has performed LASIK eye surgery at his Denver, Colorado center for over 35,000 patients. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Hines has developed a reputation in the Denver community for providing excellent comprehensive eye care. Contact them today, and experience the clarity of Hines-Sight.