Cataract Surgery…New Options

Could you benefit from the latest advancements in cataract surgery?

Just a few years ago when one was diagnosed with a cataract there were not a lot of options to consider.  He or she simply scheduled surgery and hoped for an eventual return to normal activities. Now, cataract patients of Dr. Bovelle at Envision Eye & Laser Centers are educated on several different surgical options and for many a return to normal lifestyle is happening faster than ever. Local surgeon Renee Bovelle, M.D. is a clinician who strongly believes in the efficacy of new cataract technologies.  Her vast experience, her proven results and most importantly her patient feedback are all gauges she uses as she moves her practice forward.

Approximately 3 million cataract surgeries are performed in theU.S.every year. A cataract is the loss of clarity or change in color of the crystalline lens. The lens, behind the colored part of your eye, acts much like the lens of a camera, sending light and images to the retina, which then transmits them to your brain. Our lenses cloud naturally as we age, gradually resulting in blurred vision and difficulty seeing at night which can hinder one’s ability to perform even the simplest of daily tasks.

Dr. Bovelle offers a few options to help combat the effects of the aging eye.  One of the first things she will determine by having an open dialog with her patients is the type of cataract lens that best fits the medical and personal lifestyle needs of that particular patient as all options are not suitable for everyone. These Intraocular Lens options include:

Standard Monofocal (Traditional) – This is the typical cataract surgery offered by most surgeons, designed to provide good distance vision at a fixed focal point.  However, most patients will most likely need glasses for reading after surgery.

Tecnis Multifocal – This type of lens uses fixed zones that are built into the optics of the lens. This option has become a larger part of Dr. Bovelle’s practice because of the overwhelming number of patients who experience sharper distance vision, improved computer vision and enhanced near or reading vision.  Based on her patient feedback, spectacle freedom is the main reason for selecting this lens option.  Tecnis Mutifocal provides better vision for an active life.

AcrySof Toric – This type of lens provides a unique opportunity to correct astigmatism and cataracts at the same time.   The precise design on the lens allows for the reduction or elimination of corneal astigmatism.  This provides quality distance vision without glasses postoperatively.

Dr. Bovelle is one of the few area surgeons that has the credentials, the experience and the proven results to offer the above cataract surgery options. With that in mind, if you or a family member, friend or neighbor is in need of cataract surgery, you owe it to yourself find out which options are best for you. Call Dr. Bovelle’s office at 301- 805-4664 to schedule an evaluation.

These procedures may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure. No medical procedure is risk free.  Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.

Posterior Capsulotomy

One of the steps of the cataract surgical procedure is to remove a thin cellophane like capsule located in front (anterior) of the lens. This gives the surgeon access to the cataractous lens and allows for its removal. When the lens is implanted, the rear or posterior capsule is left in place.

While that membrane remains clear, good vision is achieved. However, in some people, months or even years after their surgery, this membrane becomes cloudy. Symptoms of this include a decrease in vision, difficulty with glare or bright lights, or decreased ability to read. If this occurs a follow up procedure called posterior capsulotomy may need to be performed.

The posterior capsulotomy is a brief procedure which is performed using a laser to create a small hole in the membrane to allow light to pass through unobstructed. Most patients resume normal activity immediately with vision improvement in the first day or two.

Complications are rare, but can include an increase in intraocular pressure and retinal detachment.