What to Expect at your Cataract Consultation

Items to bring with you:

• Completed New Patient paperwork
• Provide your insurance card and picture ID
• A calendar - you will have the opportunity to meet with a friendly Surgery Coordinator during this appointment to schedule your surgery

The Cataract Consultation visit will take about 3 hours, so please plan accordingly. Your eyes will be dilated during your visit, so please bring someone to drive you home. As part of your exam, we will perform a series of tests, possibly including a refraction and a topography test. These tests are required for surgery and billed to insurance but may not be completely covered by insurance, so you will be responsible for these charges.

When to Stop Wearing Contact Lenses

Contacts reshape the surface of the cornea and may interfere with the final outcomes of your surgical procedure.

If you wear regular soft, non toric contact lenses you will need to take them out at least 2 weeks prior to your Consultation and before your procedure.

If you wear hard, gas permeable or toric contact lenses, you will need to take them out at least 3 weeks prior to your Consultation and your procedure.

Surgery Options

We offer both basic and laser-assisted cataract surgery options. Our staff and doctors will take time to explain each option in detail and will make recommendations on the best option for you.

Basic cataract surgery involves the use of a hand-held blade to make a corneal incision, create an opening in the lens capsule and a phacoemulsification ultrasound energy process to fragment and remove the lens.

Bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery is performed with the VICTUS® femtosecond laser platform. This technology allows our doctors to automate some of the most challenging steps of cataract surgery, providing customized, precise and gentle options for cataract removal. Lasers can be used to create the corneal incision and fragment and remove the cloudy lens. Treatment is based on a 3-dimensional map of your unique eye that is created for your customized treatment plan. This process takes less energy and time to remove the cloudy lens.

Lens Replacement Options

During your Cataract Consultation, you will meet with our friendly Cataract Lens Counselor to review your options in further detail, discuss your visual goals, and ask any questions you may have. Then the doctor will also discuss their best recommendations for you as well based on your testing results and your personal needs.

Basic Lens Options

Basic lenses will provide you with less cloudy vision at one focal point (either close-up or far away). If you choose a basic lens option, you will most likely need to wear glasses for near and intermediate work (reading, computer work, knitting, painting, etc.) You may also need glasses to achieve your best distance vision, especially if you have astigmatism, as this will remain uncorrected.

Premium Lens Options

As an upgraded option, you may want to choose a Premium Lens, depending on your personal visual goals. Premium Lens options allow many cataract patients to see well at all distances with a reduced or eliminated dependence on glasses, bifocals or reading glasses. These lenses, paired with bladeless, laser-assisted surgery, have the ability to improve your astigmatism as well. Premium Lenses are an elective choice and are not covered by your insurance.

• Monofocal lenses will help patients to see well at one distance (near or far), but when paired with laser-assisted surgery may greatly reduce your astigmatism. Most patients will still need a pair of reading glasses for near and intermediate distance.
• Multifocal lenses allow patients to experience a full range of high-quality vision, often without the need for reading glasses or bifocals after surgery.
• Toric lens implants may be recommended for patients with pre-existing astigmatism. Both cataracts and astigmatism can be corrected during cataract surgery with this lens option. Any of our Premium Lens options can be a toric lens.