Services: Cataract Surgery

Whether or not you have ever been diagnosed with cataracts we do know that most people get them eventually and typically patients over the age of 45 & older have a higher likelihood at developing them. If your doctor tells you that you have a cataract and it should be removed, it may be frightening to consider. However, cataract surgery is considered to be one of the safest and most successful surgeries in the United States today.

A cataract is a clouding of all or part of the normally clear lens within your eye, which results in blurred or distorted vision. A cataract can progress until eventually there is a complete loss of vision in your eye, and neither diet nor laser treatment will make a cataract go away. However, cataract surgery can help restore your vision, long before you experience loss of vision significant enough to interfere with your daily activities.

The actual cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis in either our Pottsville or Wyomissing surgery centers. An anesthetic will be sued prior to the surgery on your eye and will feel little or no discomfort. A tiny incision will be made in the eye allowing the surgeon to break up and remove the cloudy cataract. Once the cataract is removed, the new lens will be inserted.

After the procedure, you will see the doctor within 24 hours and you will need to take prescription eye drops to guard against infection.

With any surgical procedure there are risks. Our doctors can provide you will more detailed information about the potential risks and benefits of this procedure.

Here at Progressive Vision Institute- PVI we are happy to inform you, that you have options. Based on our findings during your upcoming examination we will be sure to inform you of which lens options you are a candidate for.

Cataract Surgery Lens Options:

Basic Technology:

Monofocal Lens

With single-vision lens implants, you will have good distance vision but there is likelihood you will need glasses for most near vision activities after surgery and you will have the additional replacement cost of glasses through the years. Medicare and most private insurance carries will pay the majority of your cataract surgery and costs.

Advanced Technology: Presbyopic Intraocular Lenses

Acrysof^® ReSTOR^® Multifocal Lens

The Acrysof^® ReSTOR^® diffractive implant is designed to improve your vision to see near, far and everything in between. The goal of the ReSTOR® lens surgery is to allow you to read the newspaper, prescription bottles, your wristwatch, cell phone and to see many other things near and far without glasses or at your convenience. There is an additional cost for having this advanced technology lens implanted. Previously, Medicare and most insurance companies did not cover this at all, now both Medicare and most insurances will cover a significant portion of the overall surgery costs.

ReZoom^™ Multifocal Lens

The ReZoom^™ Multifocal Lens can be used to treat cataracts as well as presbyopia. The ReZoom^™ lens has been specially designed with multifocal zones that provide good vision across the spectrum of varying distances and light conditions. A patient receives a full range of vision – near, distance and intermediate. . There is an additional cost for this lens, but again Medicare and most insurance will cover a significant portion of the overall surgery costs.

Crystalens^®

The Crystalens is an accommodating intraocular lens that can treat both cataracts and presbyopia. It recreates accommodation similar to your eye’s natural lens. The Crystalens focuses only one image to the back of the eye, unlike a multifocal lens that projects multiple images. This lens provides a full range of vision - near, intermediate and far. . There is an additional cost for this lens, but again Medicare and most insurances will cover a significant portion of the overall surgery costs.

Other Advanced Technology:

Acrysof^® Toric Lens

The Acrysof^® Toric lens is a custom ordered lens that is specifically designed for those patients who have significant amount of astigmatism. In years past, cataract surgery removed the cataract but a patient still required usually expensive glasses for near and distance vision. The design of the Acrysof^® Toric IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve distance vision, independent of eyeglasses and contact lenses. There is an additional cost for this lens, but again Medicare and most insurance will cover a significant portion of the overall surgery costs.