Cataract Surgery

Cataracts occur when proteins in the lens near the front of your eye break down, causing cloudiness. This can be associated with aging, excessive UV light exposure, long-term corticosteroid use, smoking, and diabetes. Expert ophthalmologist Elena Nguyen, MD, at ENvision Eye Care in Foster City, California, specializes in cataract surgery. The practice uses the latest technology to evaluate patients for cataracts and offers many different options for intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Call ENvision Eye Care or book an appointment online today to learn more about cataract surgery and how it could benefit you.

Why might I need cataract surgery?

You might benefit from cataract surgery if other treatments for cataracts aren’t effective.

Cataracts are common in older people. They appear when proteins in the eyes begin breaking down, forming clumps that cloud the lens. This happens slowly, so you may not be aware cataracts are present at first.

Over time, as cataracts develop, you start noticing blurriness in your vision. If you don’t get the proper treatment, your eyesight progressively worsens. With ENvision Eye Care’s expertise, you can wear eyeglasses or contact lenses that help keep your vision clear for many years.

However, cataracts still deteriorate over time. Dr. Nguyen might perform cataract surgery to prevent further vision loss and restore clear vision.

What does cataract surgery involve?

When performing cataract surgery, Dr. Nguyen will remove the cloudy lens and then replace it with a new, artificial one. Traditional cataract surgery involves using a scalpel to cut the cataract out before implanting an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). However, less invasive techniques are now available.

One is phacoemulsification, which uses high-frequency ultrasound to break up the affected lens and suction away the remains. Another option is laser cataract surgery, which is more expensive and increases the surgical time. Dr. Nguyen performs phacoemulsification cataract surgery, but she does not currently offer laser cataract surgery.

Several kinds of IOLs are available. A monofocal lens corrects a single vision problem, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. Toric lenses are for people with astigmatism, where the cornea or lens has an abnormal shape, while presbyopic lenses correct two or more vision problems.

Dr. Nguyen also performs YAG capsulotomies, using laser light to create a small hole in a membrane that can grow over the artificial intraocular lens after cataract surgery. The hole enables light to pass through to the retina, restoring vision.

What happens when I have cataract surgery?

Before you undergo any procedures, Dr. Nguyen performs a thorough evaluation and confirms you’re a good candidate for cataract surgery. ENvision Eye Care uses the latest technology to evaluate patients for cataracts.

The operation usually takes place on an outpatient basis so that you can go home the same day. Most cataract surgeries only take a short time — as little as 15 minutes in many cases.

On the day of your surgery, you receive a sedative to keep you relaxed, and Dr. Nguyen numbs the eyeball so you won’t feel any pain. She extracts the clouded lens and inserts the IOL, placing it behind the iris and pupil where your natural lens would be.

You need to wear a protective cover over your eye while recovering from surgery. Complete recovery typically takes around four weeks.

To discover whether cataract surgery is right for you, call ENvision Eye Care or book an appointment online today.