The Chu Vision Institute Procedures
Cataract Removal & Intraocular Lens Implant
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris, works just like the lens of a camera–focusing light images on the retina, which sends images to the brain. The human lens can become so clouded that it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Vision with cataracts has been described as seeing through old, cloudy film. Images are blurred, colors are dull, and driving at night can become very difficult.
The best way to treat a cataract is with surgery that removes the old, clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial one to restore your vision and quality of life. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, requires only a few hours, and uses a topical anesthetic. During the procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the eye. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument about the size of a pen tip. This instrument breaks the cloudy lens into pieces and removes them from the eye. Once the cataract is removed, an artificial replacement lens (IOL) is inserted through the same tiny incision and set into position to replace the natural lens.
Most patents typically return home the same day. Eye drops are prescribed to guard against infection and help the eye heal. Typically no stitches and no eye patches are needed and most patients return to most of their routine activities within a few days.
Insurance considers cataract surgery medically necessary and will provide coverage for surgery on visually significant cataracts with an implantation of a monofocal (single focus) intraocular lens (IOL) implant. There are lens options now available that can provide more range of focus from distance to near (reading). These “elective” lens implant options are in addition to what insurance will cover with a traditional cataract surgery and typically have out-of-pocket fees associated with them.
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Crystalens IOL
The Crystalens® accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) is designed to correct a wider range of vision following cataract surgery.
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AcrySof Toric IOL
At the time of cataract surgery, the surgeon typically implants a monofocal (single focus) intraocular lens (IOL). Patients with astigmatism…
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AcrySof ReSTOR IOL
The AcrySof® ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) is designed to help patients see in multiple ranges of vision from close to distance following cataract surgery.
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Tecnis Multifocal IOL
The Tecnis® Multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) is designed to provide patients with a range of focus at near and far to lessen spectacle dependence following cataract surgery.