More than 24 million Americans over age 40 have cataracts and surgery is the only effective treatment. The idea of having surgery, however, can be a little scary for some, particularly for patients who may be concerned about possible pain or the risks of undergoing a sensitive medical procedure.

Thankfully, cataract surgery is among the safest, most pain-free and most effective surgeries in the world.

The Safety and Efficacy of Cataract Surgery

While all surgeries carry some degree of risk, cataract surgery is very low risk. More than four million cataract surgeries are performed every year in the United States, and the results are overwhelmingly positive.

A study of 221,000 cataract surgeries found no serious complications after the procedure for 99.5% of patients, ranking it among the safest surgical procedures. And the Cleveland Clinic found 90% of cataract procedures successfully improve vision. Best of all, the benefits of cataract surgery are permanent. Once removed, your cataracts cannot return.

Procedure and Recovery: What to Expect

Cataract surgery should only be performed by a skilled and experienced ophthalmologist.

The process starts with a consultation to evaluate your symptoms and the cataract’s progression. If surgery is the best course of action, the next step is to determine whether traditional or laser-assisted surgery is the right choice for you.

With laser-assisted procedures, special software is used first to map the contours and structure of the patient’s eye. The surgeon then uses a laser to create tiny, precise incisions in the cornea. With a traditional procedure, the ophthalmologist makes these incisions by hand.

In either approach, a small probe is then inserted through the incision to create ultrasonic waves that break up the lens. Once the cataract-affected lens has been broken down into tiny pieces, those pieces are suctioned out and a new artificial lens implant is inserted and positioned.

The whole procedure takes just a few minutes to complete. 

Better Results with Laser-Assisted Procedures

While traditional cataract surgery is already safe and effective, laser-assisted cataract surgery can often offer even better outcomes, reducing side effects and improving recovery times. 

Laser-assisted surgical systems, such as LenSx^®, can help remove cataracts using half the ultrasonic energy required by a traditional procedure. This produces a lower risk of inflammation and near-immediate improvements in vision. It can also mean a completely pain-free recovery with very few or no side effects.

If you or someone you love may need cataract surgery, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care. Our talented eye surgery team will gladly answer any and all questions and address any specific concerns you may have. And, when the time is right for your surgery, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you’re in the hands of specialists who have performed tens of thousands of successful cataract surgeries.

Call us today at 352-373-4300 to schedule your consultation.