Cataract Surgery
At Anaheim Eye Institute, we deeply value your trust. Our highly experienced team is dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes through advanced surgical techniques. With decades of collective experience and thousands of successful procedures since our founding in 1958, we’ve established a benchmark in quality vision correction. Leveraging cutting-edge technology alongside personalized care, we offer a comprehensive range of lens implant options. Choose Anaheim Eye Institute for the most sophisticated cataract surgery available, where clear vision is our clear promise.
Excellence in Cataract Surgery at Anaheim Eye
We take your trust in us very seriously. Our highly experienced team concentrates on achieving the most successful surgical outcome using the most advanced surgical options available anywhere in the world. With thousands of procedures and decades of combined surgical experience, the team at Anaheim Eye Institute has set the standard in quality vision correction since its inception in 1958. This experience, combined with the most advanced technology, personalized care, and comprehensive selection of lens implant options, makes Anaheim Eye Institute your clear choice for the most advanced eye surgery available.
Understanding Cataracts and Their Treatment
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens inside your eye, which affects your vision but does not alter the outward appearance of the eye or cause external symptoms like irritation or tearing. This common misconception may lead to delayed diagnosis since many do not realize that changes in their vision quality could be due to this internal cloudiness. Although cataracts are painless, they restrict the amount of light entering your eye, diminishing your vision quality and affecting how you perceive colors and manage in low light conditions.
Cataracts develop when the natural lens of your eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms include hazy vision and an increase in glare at night, which can impair your ability to drive or see in dimly lit environments. When the quality of your vision is significantly compromised, Lens Replacement Surgery is often recommended. This procedure involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial one, restoring clear vision.
In a healthy eye, the iris controls the amount of light entering through the pupil, and the lens focuses this light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina then sends signals to the brain via the optic nerve, which interprets these signals as the images you see. In an eye with a cataract, the clouded lens scatters incoming light, making it difficult for the retina to send clear signals to the brain, resulting in impaired vision. Lens Replacement Surgery becomes necessary when cataracts interfere with your daily activities, offering a solution to restore your vision and quality of life.
Detecting Cataracts: Understanding the Signs
The first and most crucial step in determining if you have a cataract is to schedule a visit with your eye doctor. This visit typically includes vision tests and a detailed eye examination, complemented by a review of your medical history to identify any other potential vision issues. If a clouding of your natural lens is detected, indicating a cataract, Anaheim Eye Institute is ready to help. We offer the most advanced Lens Replacement Surgery, utilizing micro-incision, no-stitch techniques along with the widest range of laser and implant options available in the country.
Lens Replacement Surgery
At Anaheim Eye Institute, our surgeons employ the most advanced micro-incision techniques for Lens Replacement Surgery, enhancing safety, minimizing recovery time, and eliminating the need for sutures. The procedure starts with a painless incision to access the clouded lens caused by the cataract. Using a method known as phacoemulsification, the surgeon applies high-energy ultrasound to fragment the cloudy lens into micro-pieces, which are then removed through the small incision.
A new, artificial lens implant (IOL) replaces the cloudy lens. This implant does not alter the external appearance of your eye but significantly improves your vision by restoring clarity. Each lens implant is custom-measured to precisely fit the prescription needs of your eye, ensuring optimal vision post-surgery. The implants are secured in place by small, flexible loops that attach to the lens, maintaining stability and position within the eye.
This advanced procedure, known as Lens Replacement Surgery, is designed to replace the impaired lens with a clear, artificial alternative, offering a permanent solution to cataracts.
Lens implants are designed to last a lifetime and are crafted from biocompatible materials such as silicone and acrylic, which are gentle on your eye. While your vision is expected to improve significantly after the surgery and subsequent healing process, you might still need glasses to achieve the best visual clarity, depending on the type of lens implant you choose.
At Anaheim Eye Institute, we understand that many patients wish to minimize their reliance on glasses post-surgery. To support this, we offer an extensive selection of intraocular lens (IOL) options tailored to reduce dependency on corrective eyewear. Additionally, patients may opt for laser vision correction after their Lens Replacement Surgery to further enhance their sight.
Choosing a center like Anaheim Eye Institute, which provides a comprehensive array of laser, IOL, and cataract surgical choices, is crucial for achieving the best outcomes tailored to your vision needs.
Managing Secondary Lens Membranes at Anaheim Eye
Over time, there is a possibility that a secondary lens membrane may develop, which occurs when the capsule holding the new lens becomes cloudy or scarred. To address this, a laser treatment known as YAG Capsulotomy is used. This procedure involves creating a small opening in the capsule to remove the obscured membrane, enhancing light entry into the eye and restoring clear vision.
Anaheim Eye Institute is equipped with the most advanced YAG lasers, allowing us to perform this quick, effective treatment right in our office. This convenience means you won’t need to visit a surgical center, unlike at many other practices. The procedure only takes a few minutes but can significantly improve your vision by clearing the secondary cataract.
Introducing ORA Technology at Anaheim Eye!
At Anaheim Eye Institute, we’re excited to enhance your cataract surgery with the latest advancement in vision precision—the ORA system. This cutting-edge technology offers real-time analysis of your eye during surgery, a capability not available until now. Before ORA, surgeons had to rely on pre-surgery measurements, which were less accurate due to the cloudiness of the cataract-affected lens.
With ORA (Optiwave Refractive Analysis), we can verify the correct power of the intraocular lens (IOL) during the procedure, ensuring the best possible vision outcome. This technology is now used in all lens procedures at our institute to guarantee the optimal selection of IOL, customizing the procedure to your unique visual needs.
ORA is particularly beneficial for patients with astigmatism, those who have undergone LASIK surgery, or those receiving premium IOL implants. It significantly enhances measurement accuracy, which can reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses post-surgery.
The natural lens inside your eye, located behind the colored part (the iris), is crucial for clear vision. It adjusts its shape to focus on objects at different distances—a process known as accommodation. Over time, however, the lens loses its flexibility, a condition exacerbated by aging that leads to stiffness and cloudiness, commonly known as a cataract.
Cataracts develop gradually and are characterized by the stiffening and clouding of the eye's natural lens. This condition can lead to symptoms such as hazy vision, increased glare, poor night vision, and diminished color perception, with notable difficulties in low-light conditions, such as driving at night.
While cataracts tend to develop slowly and might not immediately require intervention, they can significantly impact daily activities like reading and driving. When this occurs, cataract surgery is often the recommended treatment. This procedure involves the removal of the clouded natural lens, which is then replaced with a clear artificial lens implant, thereby restoring clarity to vision. This corrective surgery is also known as Lens Replacement Surgery (LRS).
Standard Monofocal Lens Implants
For many years, standard monofocal lens implants have been a reliable choice to reduce glare and visual disturbances. While these implants are cost-effective and proven, they are designed to provide clear vision at a single distance. Patients opting for standard aspheric lenses will still require corrective eyewear, such as bifocals or trifocals, for multifocal needs like reading and driving.
Astigmatism Correcting Intraocular Lenses (Toric Lenses)
Patients with both cataracts and astigmatism historically relied on glasses or contact lenses for clear post-surgery vision. However, advancements in toric lens technology now offer a significant improvement, allowing for the correction of astigmatism during cataract surgery. Toric lenses are specially engineered to correct the uneven curvature of the cornea that characterizes astigmatism, aiming to reduce or eliminate the need for additional corrective lenses post-surgery.
At Anaheim Eye Institute, we understand the importance of tailored vision solutions. We offer a comprehensive range of lens implant options suited for different visual requirements, including both distance and near vision. Our facility also utilizes laser technology post-surgery to fine-tune vision, ensuring optimal outcomes tailored to your lifestyle needs.
Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery, a state-of-the-art, blade-free procedure, is now available at AEMG. Traditionally, cataract surgery required the use of a blade to make several small incisions in the eye. However, with the introduction of laser technology, these incisions are now made with laser precision, enhancing the surgeon’s control and flexibility during the procedure.
The FDA-approved LenSx laser system represents the latest advancement in cataract surgery. Utilizing femtosecond technology—similar to that used in bladeless LASIK—this system allows for image-guided surgery, enabling surgeons to tailor each procedure to the individual characteristics of the patient’s eye. The LenSx laser achieves extremely precise incisions, facilitates the breakup of the cloudy lens for easier removal, and offers enhanced capabilities in correcting astigmatism. This results in more accurate and predictable outcomes than ever before.
Multifocal lens implants offer the ability to see clearly at multiple distances, similar to bifocal contact lenses. These lenses are an excellent option for those looking to decrease their dependence on glasses after cataract surgery. Whether you opt for an accommodating lens that adjusts focus based on viewing distance, or a multifocal lens that provides simultaneous focus at various ranges, AEMG offers solutions tailored to enhance your post-surgery vision with greater freedom from corrective eyewear.
Accommodating lens implants are designed to mimic the natural behavior of the youthful eye, shifting position and focus within the eye to provide clear vision at various distances. This advanced technology allows many patients to enjoy excellent distance and intermediate vision without the need for corrective lenses. By restoring some of the eye's natural ability to change focus, these implants can significantly enhance visual acuity and reduce dependency on glasses.
Prioritize Your Vision and Well-being with CareCredit
Postponing vision care can delay your well-being, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re considering LASIK, in need of cataract surgery, or it’s time for new glasses or contacts, CareCredit can help you see clearer, sooner.
We offer CareCredit©, a financing card designed specifically for your vision and beauty needs. CareCredit enables you to proceed with the procedures you’ve always wanted without delay. With flexible monthly payment options, no up-front costs, no prepayment penalties, and no annual fees, you can begin your treatment immediately.
Explore financing options for all your eyecare and oculoplastic needs at Carecredit.com. Whether you’re considering cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses or eyelid/cosmetic surgery not covered by insurance, CareCredit provides a variety of financing solutions to fit your budget.
CareCredit is committed to excellent customer support, offering no-interest financing plans for up to 18 months, as well as extended financing options with a low interest rate to make your care more affordable.