Cataract

A cataract is a "clouding" of the lens in your eye. The lens, located just behind the iris or the colored part of your eye, works like the lens of a camera. It picks up images, then focuses the lights, colors, and shapes on the retina - the transmitter located at the back of your eye that sends the images to your brain. In a normal eye, light passes through the lens and gets focused on the retina. To help produce a sharp image, the lens must remain clear.

Cataract - As light passes through the cataractous lens, it is diffused or scattered. The result is blurred or defocused vision.
In its early stages, a cataract may not cause a vision problem. The cloudiness may affect only a small part of the lens. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it more difficult to see objects clearly.
There are several causes to cataracts, including aging, smoking, diabetes and excessive exposure to sunlight. Cataracts also can develop soon after an eye injury, or even years later. Cataracts cannot be prevented. In over 90% of cases, cataracts are caused by the aging process.

In the early stages of cataracts, stronger lighting and eyeglasses may lessen vision problems caused by the clouding of the lens. A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, or seeing things at night is more difficult. It may also be why eyeglasses or contact lenses that used to help you see, or do other simple tasks, no longer seem to help.
Once the cataract impacts an individual’s quality of life, surgery may be needed to improve vision. This treatment involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. Each year, approximately 2.7 million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S., and globally, nine million cataract surgeries are performed. Today, cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens, often a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). A monofocal lens typically provides patients with only one focal point, most commonly far away, leaving patients dependent on glasses for up-close tasks. A new breakthrough technology, AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, addresses this by allowing patients to see a full range of vision, near through distance, reducing a patient’s reliance on glasses. Dr. Weitzenkorn is certified by Alcon to use AcrySof® ReSTOR®. He has been implanting lenses for over 20 years and has been working with multifocal lenses from their inception.

What a Cataract is NOT

A cataract is not a "film" over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement.

Roaring Fork Eye Clinic offers breakthrough cataract treatments

The leading choice for cataracts and astigmatism

Roaring Fork Eye Clinic offers another two-in-one solution. AcrySof® Toric is the first IOL that treats preexisting astigmatism at the same time it corrects cataracts, so patients don’t have to undergo two separate procedures. Patients also enjoy improved quality distance vision over traditional IOLs.

What’s the reaction of patients who have experienced the AcrySof® lens?

Patients are so pleased with their vision, nearly 94% of the patients in the supporting clinical study said they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens implanted again. Given the simplicity of the procedure and the life-changing results, many wish they’d acted sooner.

Is the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens proven?

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens comes from Alcon, the world’s leader in lenses for cataract surgery. The Alcon family of lenses is the most widely used brand: more than 25 million AcrySof® IOLs have been implanted worldwide.

Life-changing results in minutes

Whichever IOL you choose, rest assured cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective procedures performed today. We simply make a tiny incision in your eye, remove its natural clouded lens, and replace it with a new lens. The actual surgery can take minutes and the results are permanent and life changing. Most patients are back to their normal activity the very next day. Your eye doctor will implant the lens in one eye, then schedule an appointment for your second eye–usually a week later.

Both the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens and the AcrySof® Toric lens are developed by Alcon, the world’s leader in lenses for cataract surgery. The Alcon family of lenses is the most widely used brand: more than 25 million have been implanted worldwide.

We’re proud to offer AcrySof® lenses as part of our ongoing commitment to patients who want the latest advances, the best vision, and the highest quality of life.

How are IOLs inserted?

IOLs are implanted during cataract surgery, which is one of the safest and most effective procedures performed today. Your eye doctor will make a tiny incision in your eye, remove your eye’s natural clouded lens, and replace it with one of the AcrySof® line of lenses. Your eye doctor will implant the lens in one eye, then schedule an appointment for your second eye–usually a week later.

Is cataract surgery painful?

Cataract surgery is generally a simple, outpatient procedure with little discomfort. The results are permanent, and the actual surgery can take only minutes. Most patients are back to their normal activities the very next day.