Cataract Surgery FAQs: What Michigan Residents Should Know

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in your eye. Most cataracts are age-related, but some cataracts may form because of injury or secondary disease. Cataracts often begin forming after age 40. They appear very slowly, gradually clouding vision as proteins in your eye’s lens break down.

Cataracts can affect each person differently, but nearly every cataract patient experiences cloudy or blurry vision. Other symptoms include:

• Faded colors
• Poor nighttime vision
• Shadowing or “ghosting” to vision
• Excessive glare and halos when viewing lights
• Frequent changing of prescriptions

Cataracts can increase nearsightedness in patients, and they can also induce astigmatism. These conditions result in blurry vision and decreased sight at certain distances. Are cataracts painful? No, you cannot feel a cataract in your eye whatsoever, but they can be uncomfortable to your vision and definitely burdensome.

Eye surgery for cataracts comes in many forms. An MEI eye specialist can determine the best method for treating your cataracts, but on a basic level, each cataract surgery involves removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. Cataract surgeries are low-stress and quick, with nearly all patients returning home within a few hours.

At Michigan Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on being one of the few advanced in cataract surgery, offering laser-assisted and dropless cataract surgery.

• Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
• Dropless Cataract Surgery

One of the most frequently asked questions about cataract surgery is whether it is safe or not. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common vision restoration procedures. A skilled eye doctor will make it a routine and relatively painless experience.

Laser-assisted cataract surgery is a precise, minimal-risk procedure that removes a clouded lens with a programmed laser instead of an ophthalmologist’s handiwork with a blade. It is indicated for those that have even mild astigmatism.

MEI’s laser-assisted cataract surgery is centered around precision. Our eye specialists will scan your eye and create a detailed mapping of where a laser incision should be made. After the femtosecond laser makes an incision, it also breaks the cataract into small pieces, decreasing the amount of ultrasound vibration needed to break it up. After the cataract is fully broken up, it is removed in its now small pieces through a tiny laser incision.

This laser allows for precise placement of the new lens, increasing the chances of a successful surgery and therefore increasing its benefits.

Laser-assisted cataract surgery is a reliable choice for many cataract patients, providing the following benefits:

• Increased precision
• Reduced reliance on ultrasound energy
• Better correction of astigmatism

Dropless cataract surgery is an option for our patients to aid in convenience, recovery time, and post-operative discomfort from eye drop preservatives on the surface of the eye. Traditional surgery requires patients to administer prescribed eye drops several times per day to reduce inflammation and discomfort, but dropless cataract surgery removes the need for this. Your eye doctor applies antibiotics and anti-inflammatories during the surgery, making for an easier and more relaxing recovery.

Dropless cataract surgery has several monetary and medical benefits, providing patients with the following:

• Infection prevention
• Fewer postoperative medication routines
• Cost savings from avoiding prescription drops

Most candidates for cataract surgery are also candidates for dropless cataract surgery. But not all patients who opt for dropless cataract surgery enjoy its full benefits—patients with certain medical conditions may still need the additional eye drops to manage their conditions.

Since dropless cataract surgery’s benefits depend on the condition of your eyes, it’s best to schedule a consultation with a Michigan Eye Institute surgeon. We can determine whether dropless cataract surgery is the right treatment for you.

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are artificial replacements for your eye’s natural lenses. An IOL implant functions just like a natural lens, helping your eye focus and direct light to the retina. IOLs are used in all cataract surgeries. Without them, patients would be left with what are referred to as “Coke-bottle” glasses.

IOLs are most often used during cataract surgery, but they can also be used to correct issues like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery.

Michigan Eye Institute offers several types of IOLs, with each lens benefitting patients differently:

• Monofocal lens: This choice allows for single-distance clarity, where the patient can choose to see either at a distance or near. These lenses will require some form of glasses after the surgery (most commonly for reading).
• Toric lens: Helps patients struggling with astigmatism. A toric lens will ease your eye strain and make driving much easier.
• Multifocal or Trifocal lens: Gives patients better vision at close-up, intermediate, and far distances. This is the ideal choice for patients who want the most independence from spectacle wear.
• Extended Depth-of-Focus lens: This lens allows patients to focus over a wide range of distances, including far, intermediate, and some near. The extended depth-of-focus eliminates overlapping images and halos.
• Light Adjustable lens: The RxSight™ Light Adjustable lens is the first and only IOL that can be modified after cataract surgery, giving patients more control over their vision than ever. With the assistance of your doctor, patients can “fine-tune” their outcomes after surgery using light technology.

The right IOL will address your specific visual needs, but other considerations may include your lifestyle and budget. You can schedule a consultation at Michigan Eye Institute to learn which IOLs are best for you. In this appointment, you will make a joint decision with your surgeon by telling them your goals after surgery, especially where you want to be less dependent on glasses.

How do you know if you have a cataract? Cataracts are most often diagnosed through annual eye exams. Because they tend to progress slowly over time, they can be monitored for a while. Once they start to impede vision, especially at night with halos and glare, they are likely ready for surgery. This is often seen when eyeglasses can no longer correct a patient to their level of satisfaction.

Persistent fading colors, shadowy vision, halos/glare, and changes to your eye prescription may lead you to have cataract surgery.

A pre-surgery consultation includes a comprehensive eye examination to make sure you qualify for cataract surgery. This exam tests your best-corrected acuity (i.e., vision on the eye chart), the changes to your glasses prescription, and your vision under glare situations.

If you do need surgery, an eye doctor will discuss your options with you. They will take multiple images of your eyes to plan for the most precise surgical outcomes.

If you wear contacts, you likely cannot use them for one or two weeks before surgery. This is because contacts can change the shape of your lens or cornea and affect the pre-surgical images that take precise measurements. Think of contact lenses like a retainer—they can mold/shape the eye differently than its natural state. You may also be restricted from taking certain medications a few days before the surgery. Your eye doctor will discuss these changes with you during a consultation.

For cataract surgery preparation, you will likely need to abstain from food or drink during the 12 hours before. Cataract surgery is relatively quick, often lasting 30 minutes or less.

The first step of cataract surgery is numbing the surface of your eye with anesthesia. Once the anesthesia sets in, a small incision is made in your cornea. Either a laser or blade will be used for this. The cataract itself is then broken up with ultrasound vibration (or a laser if the patient chooses) and removed. Finally, an artificial lens is added, and the lens flap is lowered without the need for sutures. The incision closes on its own.

Your eyes will likely be a little dry, and you may feel minor discomfort for the first few days of cataract surgery recovery, but avoid rubbing your eyes. A common question among patients is, “How long does vision stay blurry after cataract surgery?” The answer varies, but most patients’ vision should start to improve in the first few days.

If you’re wondering about the right sleeping position after cataract surgery, it’s a good idea to sleep on your back. This reduces the amount of pressure you place on your eyes. You will also need to wear an eye shield while you sleep, just as you should wear dark glasses when you go outside.

And how long do you need to wear dark glasses outside after cataract surgery? You will need to wear these glasses for at least one week, perhaps more if your eyes are sensitive to light. However, it is always a good idea to wear sunglasses outdoors whether you have had surgery or not.

As for screens, if you’re wondering when you can look at your phone or watch TV after cataract surgery, know that you should be able to resume these activities just a few hours later.

Cataract surgery is a very low-risk, routine surgery, but potential complications include:

• Infections
• Swelling
• Drooping eyelids
• Retinal detachment

The cost of cataract surgery depends on which type of surgery you opt for and any medications that are paired with the surgery. Every surgery is different, creating a wide spectrum of individual patient needs and costs. Your eye doctor will discuss potential costs during your consultation, ensuring you know the extent of care and pricing.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover the basic cost of cataract surgery. Coverage varies from plan to plan, but most plans will not cover the total cost, leaving you with a copay and unmet deductible. Your insurance coverage may also change depending on which type of surgery you opt for. It’s important to check with your insurance provider before receiving cataract surgery.