What are cataracts?
Cataracts occur when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and hard – a condition that may cause blurred vision, sensitivity to light, glare and ghost images. Cataracts develop due to normal aging, an eye injury, or as a complication of medications such as steroids.
How are cataracts treated?
Surgical removal is the only way to treat a cataract. Physicians at Emory Eye Center use the femtosecond cataract Bladeless LenSx system to perform the surgery.
What are my surgery options?
As a part of the surgical treatment of cataracts, Emory Eye Center clinicians implant an appropriate lens to correct your vision. We urge you to discuss with your doctor the advantages and limitations of each of the following lens options: Monofocal IOL, Toric IOL, Multifocal IOL, Psuedo-accomdative IOL.
Will I still need glasses?
The goal of cataract surgery is to correct the decreased vision that is caused by the cataract. Several factors may affect your need for corrective lenses or contacts. For instance, cataract surgery will not correct vision problems caused by glaucoma, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration or other undiagnosed problems. No matter what type of intraocular lens (IOL) you choose, there may be residual refractive errors that require the use of corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.
Will LASIK help?
LASIK and Refractive Surgery (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a safe, effective, and generally painless surgical procedure designed to reduce a person's need for glasses or contact lenses. It achieves this by changing the shape of the cornea (clear covering of the eye) with an excimer laser. Emory cornea specialists have earned worldwide recognition for their expertise in general refractive surgical techniques that improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. Our specialists have contributed research toward every advance in refractive surgery techniques, including refractive keratotomy (RK), photo refractive keratotomy (PRK), LASIK, LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) and phakic IOLs.