About Our Services

Aesthetic Services

Cataract

The Cataract Service

About Cataracts

Cataract Surgery
& After Care

Crystalens &
Premium Lens Implants

Secondary Cataracts &
YAG Capsulotomy

Corneal Disease

Diabetic Eye

Eye Diseases & Disorders

Glaucoma

LASIK & Vision Correction

Macular Degeneration

Plastic Surgery

Retina & Vitreous

Products

Cataract Surgery

What is cataract surgery with IOL?
Cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation (IOL) is a procedure in which an eye surgeon removes the clouded lens from the eye and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant.

When is it done?
Cataracts cause vision problems by preventing clear images from reaching the back of the eye. You may choose to have cataract surgery because you need to have better vision to continue your normal activities.

How is it done?
Today, almost all cataracts patients have their cataracts removed using a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. Our doctors were among the first in the region to pioneer this surgery that dissolves the cataract with a tiny instrument using sound waves, and removing it with a gentle suction in the tip.

Once the cataract is removed, a new lens must replace it. The most preferred lens replacement is a collamer or plastic intraocular lens implant (IOL). These implants come in prescriptions just like eyeglasses and contact lenses. They also come as a standard lens or a premium lens. The standard lenses focus at only one or two distances which often requires eyeglasses. The premium lenses like the crystalens moves fluidly with the natural action of the eye’s muscle thus providing a full range of vision.

At Carolina Eye, our doctors perform “Instant Vision, Comfort Cataract Surgery” that represents the latest in cataract removal and lens implantation. The procedure's success stems from the use of a special micro incision, a foldable intraocular lens, and the use of drops rather than shots to numb the eye.  Superior instrumentation and the phacoemulsification technique makes the procedure possible.

The benefits of the Instant Vision procedure are numerous. Since the anesthesia is given in an eye drop rather than a shot, and no stitches are used, trauma to the eye is greatly reduced. Most important, this allows a faster return to normal activities plus offers less risk of complications. Improvement in vision may be seen as early as the minute after surgery.

What if I also have astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism in addition to having a cataract, this condition can be treated with a second procedure at the same time as the cataract procedure.
The procedure to correct this, involves making a relaxing incision on the cornea to change it from a football shape back into a round shape, like a baseball. This usually improves vision beyond what cataract surgery alone can do.

What if I have glaucoma?
If you have glaucoma, the pressure inside your eye is not properly regulated which may cause damage to the nerve in the back of your eye. This pressure can be corrected during the cataract procedure by performing a glaucoma procedure at the same time. There are a number of procedures that can be used. Your doctor will discuss the one that is best for you.

How do I prepare for the procedure?
Contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses it is very important that you stop wearing soft lenses at least 14 days prior to your visit and gas-permeable lenses at least 21 days prior to your visit.

Eye infection. If you have any symptoms of an eye infection, please let us know so that it can be treated prior to your visit.

Responsible adult. You need to bring an adult who drives and can remain with you throughout the day. Patients are NOT allowed to drive after surgery. Since seating is limited, we ask that only one person accompany you. If your postoperative care will be done at Carolina Eye, you will also need for someone to drive you back to the center the next day.

RK, LASIK, or other refractive surgery. If you had previous refractive surgery like RK or LASIK done at another center, please bring copies of the eye measurements that were taken before your surgery.

Day before surgery. Please do not drink any alcoholic beverage within 24 hours of your surgery. Take a laxative if you are constipated.

Day of surgery. Shower and wash your hair. Remove fingernail polish and do not wear makeup. Wear clean and comfortable clothes since you will be changing out of them into a surgical gown. Secure long hair with a rubber band. Do not wear metal clips or bobby pins. Unless you are instructed otherwise, eat a light breakfast. Take your morning medications as scheduled.

What do I need to bring with me?
Please visit the Planning Your Visit page for information on what to bring with you.

What happens before the surgery?
After a complete eye examination, you will have an A-Scan test. The A-Scan measures the length of your eye. The result of this test is entered into a computer along with your current eyeglass prescription. The computer gives your surgeon calculated information concerning your eye and the type of intraocular lens that is needed.

In addition to the eye tests, a physical examination is also needed. The exam is usually done by your family physician and includes a blood test, urinalysis, chest x-ray (in special cases) and an electrocardiogram.As your surgery date approaches, you are prescribed an antibiotic eye drop or drug. Other medications may be prescribed depending on the condition of your eye.

What can I expect the day of surgery?
Most people feel nervous the day of their surgery...but there is no need. Everything is done to make you feel at ease and as comfortable as possible.
In order to prepare you for a safe and painless operation, several things take place. After getting settled in the outpatient surgery center, a nurse puts drops in your eye, starts intravenous fluids, and attaches you to a heart monitor. After you are sedated and your eye numbed, she attaches an eye pressure cuff over your eye to prepare it for surgery.

In the operating room, your eye is cleansed and a drape is placed around your eye and over your head so that only the eye to be operated on is exposed. Oxygen is supplied under the drape. During surgery, you may hear the humming of the machine removing your cataract. You may also feel the weight of your surgeon's hands on your forehead, but other than that, you feel nothing around your eye. If at any time during surgery, you should feel any discomfort, let your doctor know.

The surgery takes between 5 to 15 minutes. After the operation, the drape over your eye is removed, and an eye shield may be taped over your eye. You then return to the recovery area where you relax a few minutes and enjoy a beverage.

Please note, you must have a responsible adult drive you home. This is important because you will be given sedatives during your surgery. The sedatives can impair your ability to walk, think, remember, and drive, so it is very important that you have someone to care for you for the first 24 hours after your surgery. If no family member or friend is present, please let us know right away so that arrangements can be made prior to reaching the operating room area.

The next morning you must have a postoperative check. This is required. If you have a referring eye doctor, you may have the option of seeing that eye doctor for the one-day check. This option may not be available to you if your insurance carrier does not allow it or if your optometrist does not participate in shared care. If you choose this option, you must wait 2 hours after your surgery for a postoperative check by a Carolina Eye Associates physician. The person who accompanies you must remain with you during this waiting period. You may require assistance to walk or go to the restroom because you may still be experiencing the effects of the sedatives. If you cannot make arrangements to have your post operative check either at your referring eye doctor or here at Carolina Eye Associates, please let us know so we can reschedule your surgery.

After Surgery Care

What can I expect right after surgery?
You can expect a normal day. If your eye was patched, you'll need to leave it patched until it's removed the next morning during your visit. You may have some pink or clear tears run down your cheek under the eyepatch; if so, simply wipe them away.

You can perform your usual daily activities; however, you should not strain yourself or get your eye or eyepatch wet. You can watch TV, read, walk, take a drive (do not drive yourself), go shopping, or go back to work. You can eat or drink anything you like except you should not drink anything alcoholic. For the next 24 hours you should not drive, drink alcohol, bend from the waist, lift anything over 5 pounds, have sex, or take a shower. It is very important that you DO NOT get any water in your eye, rub your eye nor lay on the same side as the eye shield.

If your eye has been "blocked" (anesthesia to keep it from moving during surgery), you may experience bruising, drooping eyelid, double vision and you may have difficulty opening the eyelid. You may see a "halo" or circles around objects and the blocked eye may not see objects. You may feel tingling as the "block" begins to wear off. These conditions are normal and will go away in 3 to 6 hours.

You should plan on wearing your eye shield at bedtime and naptime, and do so for one to two weeks.

If you feel any discomfort, it can be quickly relieved by taking an aspirin substitute like Tylenol, Advil or Motrin. If you have hard pain that does not go away after 30 minutes or you feel nauseated, call Carolina Eye Associates right away. This is not normal.

If you have any itching or burning, simply use preservative-free artificial tears as needed.

What can I expect over the next several months?
You can expect your eyesight to improve daily. Vision is usually not perfect the next morning after cataract surgery. Some people have good vision immediately, but most have their vision improve daily over the next several weeks.

It takes six to eight weeks for your eye to heal completely. During this time, periodic checkups are required. There are a couple of ways of doing this. Most patients prefer to have their local eye doctor perform the checkups. However; some patients may need to return to Carolina Eye. Cataract patients most likely need eyeglasses for doing close work or reading. New glasses usually are prescribed anywhere from two to six weeks after surgery. It is perfectly safe to wear old glasses until then. If you have a referring doctor, your doctor can prescribe the new eyeglasses.

In the future, it is possible that the membrane that held your cataract in place may become cloudy. In fact, the symptoms are similar to a cataract in that things don't seem as clear or as bright as they should be, that is why some patients call them "Secondary Cataracts." This is quite common, and is no cause for alarm. Your eye surgeon can quickly restore your sight using a laser. The important thing is that you should contact your eye doctor if you notice your vision starting to decrease.