Cataract Surgery

Every year, 2 million Americans have cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can enhance your quality of life and improve your vision. At Saratoga Eye Institute, Dr. Ho Sun Choi, MD, specializes in cataract surgery and offers innovative procedures to reduce your recovery time. To request a consultation, call the office in Saratoga, California, or request a consultation online today.

Why would I need cataract surgery?

Cataracts are an eye disease that causes clouding of your eye lens. In many cases, they are part of the aging process and often develop when proteins in your eye break down, resulting in a cloudy film over your usually clear lens. They grow slowly and affect your vision.

Initially, Dr. Choi may recommend prescription eyeglasses to correct the visual changes cataracts can cause. However, as cataracts expand, glasses may no longer be effective.

Dr. Choi might recommend cataract surgery if your cataracts are making it difficult for you to perform everyday activities, such as reading or watching television. He determines the best procedure based on your symptoms, test results, exam findings, and individual needs.

Are there different types of cataract surgery?

There are various types of cataract surgery. Here are a couple of examples:

Basic cataract surgery

During basic cataract surgery, Dr. Choi uses a tiny blade to remove your clouded lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. He uses a topical anesthetic and intravenous (IV) sedative to ensure your comfort during the procedure.

Dr. Choi performs your cataract surgery without needing stitches or patches, which means he will restore your vision within the same day.

Laser cataract and astigmatism surgery

Laser cataract and astigmatism surgery is an advanced surgical procedure that uses laser technology to remove the cataract lens. During the process, your ophthalmologist uses the Femto laser to make incisions and divide your cataract into more than 50 tiny pieces for easy removal. Your new IOL implant is then inserted.

To ease discomfort, your ophthalmologist uses anesthesia drops and an IV sedative during the procedure. Because the procedure is performed without blades, you don’t need stitches and patches. Your vision can be restored within the same day.

Is there downtime required for cataract surgery?

After basic cataract surgery, you can resume most of your usual activities right away, except for swimming, gardening, and construction, which can be added back to your routine around two weeks after your surgery.

You should plan on taking one to three days off of work to be sure you have enough time to rest, but it is customary to resume most normal activities within a couple of days. Make sure to follow Dr. Choi’s instructions for optimal results.

To learn more about your treatment options for cataracts from the experienced and innovative team at Saratoga Eye Institute, call the office or request a consultation online today.