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What is a cataract?

A cataract is when the lens in the eye has become cloudy and hard. Cataracts can develop due to several reasons: normal aging, eye injury, or from medications known as steroids. Cataracts can cause blurred vision, dulled vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and/or ghost images. You do not have to remove the cataract, however, your vision loss will continue to get worse. If you decide to remove the cataract, surgery is the only method.

Before surgery, you will receive a thorough examination, and you will be informed fully of your options. All of your questions will be answered. The goal of cataract surgery is to correct poor vision that was caused by the cataract. You will be made comfortable for the surgery. At the beginning of the surgery, your eye will be made numb using eye drops only! Rarely, an injection may be needed. Light sedation will be administered by a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, whose entire role is to make you feel comfortable, and to monitor your vital signs. During surgery, Dr. Medford removes the cataract and inserts a new artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL), which is permanent. The goal of surgery is twofold. First, is to remove the discolored, dingy, distorting cataract lens. Second is to restore the best corrected vision thereby improving the (visual) quality of life. For over 4 years, Dr. Medford has offered LenSx LASER assisted cataract surgery. For most patients, there may be an option to place a ‘premium’ implant lens which reduces astigmatism and/or improves near vision too! If you are a good candidate for the ‘premium’ implant lens and choose to have Dr. Medford implant them, your dependency on eyeglasses can be reduced tremendously!