HOME : Cataract

What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

What is a Lens?
The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Causes and Risk Factors
What causes cataracts?
The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil (see diagram). It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.

But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the years.

How can cataracts affect my vision?
Age-related cataracts can affect your vision in two ways:

Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina. The lens consists mostly of water and protein. When the protein clumps up, it clouds the lens and reduces the light that reaches the retina. The clouding may become severe enough to cause blurred vision. Most age-related cataracts develop from protein clumpings. When a cataract is small, the cloudiness affects only a small part of the lens. You may not notice any changes in your vision. Cataracts tend to "grow" slowly, so vision gets worse gradually. Over time, the cloudy area in the lens may get larger, and the cataract may increase in size. Seeing may become more difficult. Your vision may get duller or blurrier.

The clear lens slowly changes to a yellowish/brownish color, adding a brownish tint to vision. As the clear lens slowly colors with age, your vision gradually may acquire a brownish shade. At first, the amount of tinting may be small and may not cause a vision problem. Over time, increased tinting may make it more difficult to read and perform other routine activities. This gradual change in the amount of tinting does not affect the sharpness of the image transmitted to the retina. If you have advanced lens discoloration, you may not be able to identify blues and purples. You may be wearing what you believe to be a pair of black socks, only to find out from friends that you are wearing purple socks.

When are you most likely to have a cataract?
The term "age-related" is a little misleading. You don't have to be a senior citizen to get this type of cataract. In fact, people can have an age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s. But during middle age, most cataracts are small and do not affect vision. It is after age 60 that most cataracts steal vision.

Who is at risk for cataract?
The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include:

• Certain diseases such as diabetes.
• Personal behavior such as smoking and alcohol use.
• The environment such as prolonged exposure to sunlight

If you are age 60 or older, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. In addition to cataract, your eye care professional can check for signs of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and other eye diseases.

AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL
The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is designed to allow for distance (watching children playing in the backyard), near (reading) and intermediate (computer work) vision and a high chance for freedom from glasses. You will get the full benefit of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL when it is implanted in both eyes. In fact, a U.S. clinical study showed that nearly 94% of patients that had the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL implanted in both eyes were so satisfied with their vision they would have the procedure again. Ask us at the Eye Center for any information regarding all risks and benefits of cataract surgery and the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens.

Eye Diagram

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FAQs

New Crystalens™

AcrySof® ReSTOR®

Frequently Asked Questions

What is astigmatism?
To understand astigmatism one can think of the front of the eye as a rounded surface. Due to heredity and the way the lids press on the eye over a lifetime, the curvature changes more toward a football or egg shape. Astigmatism produces blurring at both distance and near and often double or ghost images are seen. Until recently the only effective remedies were wearing glasses or contact lens, or placing "relaxing" incisions in the eye.

What is BIOPTICS?
Simply stated BIOPTICS is the combination of laser vision correction and No-Stitch Cataract surgery. You will first have a 15 minute outpatient cataract surgery. A few weeks later you will have a supplemental procedure consisting of laser vision correction to refine your vision.
Step 1
Routine small-incision cataract surgery is performed at the Pacific Hills Surgery Center.
Step 2
After a few weeks, laser vision correction to remove astigmatism is performed at the offices of the Laser Vision Institute, upstairs next to the Eye Center.

What are the benefits of BIOPTICS over routine cataract surgery?
Routine cataract surgery without BIOPTICS is sufficient to produce satisfying results in approximately 70% of patients. For others, however, preexisting astigmatism persists. This laser refractive technique has longer lasting benefits than incision into the eye or specialized lens implants that were helpful in the past.

Will I be able to see at distance and near without glasses?
Your surgeon will discuss the glasses-free goal you prefer, either distance or near. Most find distance vision without glasses preferable. Others find that a blend of distance and near capabilities shared by the two eyes works best for their vision needs and lifestyle.

Will BIOPTICS prolong my healing time after cataract surgery?
There are two brief healing periods instead of one. In both instances no patch is required. Driving and work are resumed within a day or two. Minor restrictions will apply for two weeks.

Does this procedure cost more?
Usually cataract surgery insurance benefits cover most if not all of the cost of the procedure and follow-up visits. With BIOPTICS, the laser treatment that refines vision is a non-covered service with respect to MEDICARE, HMO’s, and most indemnity carriers. For this reason a charge is added to cover the additional services at a lower fee than if this service were provided independent of cataract surgery. The Surgical Coordinator will quote the applicable costs to cover BIOPTICS treatment. Follow-up services and care extend for 1 year, well beyond the customary cataract-related global period.

The Eye Center of Orange County appreciates the opportunity to enlighten you about the benefits of BIOPTICS as an opportunity to experience superior results in treatment of cataract combined with astigmatism. Dr. Jonathan Ramin Pirnazar welcomes your questions. We want you to become thoroughly familiar with the BIOPTICS program.

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CRYSTALENS™
The vision technology you have been waiting for is here!
The Eye Center of Orange County is proud to introduce the Crystalens™, the first accommodating IOL (intra-ocular lens). The Crystalens™ is a solution to presbyopia which is the limitation in near vision affecting nearly everyone 45 and older. It works like the eye’s natural lens to restore one’s ability to see images at near, intermediate and distance. Crystalens™ is an intraocular replacement lens that works continually with your eyes’ focusing muscles to give you the quality of vision that you enjoyed when you were younger.

The revolutionary design element that makes Crystalens™ the state of the art is the "hinge" configuration which allows the lens to flex within the eye. This replication of accommodation adjusts the power of the new lens for closer vision through contraction of the eye’s circular muscles.

Crystalens™ Now Available for Access by Medicare Patients
A new ruling by Medicare in May 2005 allows Medicare patients the option to have access to choose Crystalens™ implants for cataract surgery.

Are you over 45 and lost your near vision? Now, you need reading glasses and have cataracts?
Besides reversing the affect of natural aging, Crystalens™ can now help millions of Americans who undergo cataract surgery. Previously most patients were required to wear reading glasses even after a successful procedure. Crystalens™, the first multi-focal (close and far vision) accommodating IOL applied to cataract surgery, now can restore far and near vision in a seemless fashion where previous designs retained the stepped close vision (like bifocals). Soon, eye doctors can strive to eliminate glasses altogether for many cataract patients who hope for a freer lifestyle.

The benefits of the Crystalens™ have been demonstrated in clinical studies:
• 99% of patients implanted with Crystalens™ in both eyes could pass a drivers test without glasses.
• 100% could see intermediate (24" to 30") without glasses, the distance for most daily activities.
• 98% could see well enough to read the newspaper and the phone book without glasses.

A Life Changing Difference
Consider receiving a consultation evaluation today for you to enjoy a new and better way of life. Once again, continuously and automatically bring the things of importance into clear and colorful focus. With an appointment at the Eye Center pre-treatment evaluations include a complete eye exam, IOL Master™ lens power testing, and a personalized consultation with your surgeon.

The implantation of the Crystalens™ is a delicate microsurgical procedure requiring the skills of an experienced eye surgeon well versed in the intricacies of cataract and clear lens replacement. Performed in an out-patient surgery center, the inserting of a Crystalens™ takes about ten minutes in total ensured comfort, induced by a topical anesthesia enhanced by short-term sedation. At Pacific Hills Surgery Center a staff of caring nurses and technicians see to each patient’s peace of mind as well as medical needs. Eye surgeons and patients throughout Orange County give the center constant accolades for its professionalism and excellence.

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