We specialize in cataract surgery using the most advanced technology and lens implants.  We will work closely with you to select the best surgical option that suits your needs. Refractive outcome after surgery includes distance in both eyes, near in both eyes, full monovision (distance in one eye and near in the other eye), mini-monovision (distance in one eye and slightly near-sightedness in the other eye), blended near vision (intermediate in one eye and near in the other eye), or multifocal in both eyes (distance and near in both eyes).  Astigmatism correction to can be done through corneal incisions or with special toric lens implantation.  Everyone has different visual demands and cataract surgery is not one-size fits all.  Because cataract surgery will give you the vision that you will use for the rest of your life, often for more than 20-30 years, it is important that  you understand your choices in order to make an educated and personalized decision that is right for you.

Laser cataract surgery can improve safety and reduce recovery time compared to standard surgery.  The video here (from the laser manufacturer) demonstrates how laser surgery and automation make surgery easier for both the surgeon and the patient.

Toric intracoular lens (IOL) corrects astigmatism and significantly improves the quality of vision.  Astigmatism should always be corrected the time of cataract surgery.  Low level of astigmatism can be corrected with corneal incisions while high level of astigmatism is corrected by implanting the Toric IOL.  In a normal eye, light rays from an object is focused from all sides equally, allowing the image to come into a point of sharp focus, resulting in clear vision.  When astigmatism is present, the eye's focusing power is not the same on all sides, causing some light rays to bend more in one area and less in another area.  In this instance, the light rays come into focus at multiple different points, resulting in blurred vision.  A Toric IOL will bend the light rays more in the areas where it is needed.  This allows light rays coming into the eye to bend equally on all sides, producing a much shaprer image compared to when the astigmatism is not corrected.  Here is a patient education video from Johnson & Johnson on the Toric IOL.

Multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) allows light to be focused from both distance and near and helps reduce the dependancy on reading glasses.  However, a multifocal lens is not perfect.  Because it allows light to be focused from both distance and near at the same time, it only captures about 60% and 40% of the light from each location, respectively.  Therefore, it allows you to see both far and close, but at a slightly reduced image quality.  Additionally, there are rings on the Multifocal IOL that may produce glare with nighttime driving.  With that said, this IOL can work very well in the right candidate and we can help determine if it is right for you.  Here is a patient education video from Novartis & Alcon on the Multifocal IOL.