Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed by eye surgeons in the US. With over 3 million cataract surgeries each year, it is considered to be one of the safest and most effective of all surgical procedures.

When to Have Cataract Surgery

In order to know when to have cataract surgery, a comprehensive eye exam is required. If the cataract is not yet affecting vision, then surgery may be able to be delayed for a year or more. However, it is extremely important to schedule eye exams each year to monitor the cataract’s progression.

Cataract Surgery at Eye Clinic of Austin

Superior Surgeon
Dr. Farhan A. Irshad is one of the most skilled ophthalmologists in Central Texas. He has been voted an Austin Top Ophthalmologist and works hard to provide best-in-class eye care while ensuring patients feel comfortable and confident. Dr. Irshad also understands the importance of determining what lens will work best for each patient’s unique eyes and lifestyle.

To hear from real Eye Clinic of Austin patients about their cataract surgery experience, please visit our Video Patient Testimonials page.

Superior Technology
Eye Clinic of Austin offers the most advanced technology for cataract surgery, the VERION™ Image Guided System.

A new era of refractive cataract precision, the VERION system allows the eye surgeon to minimize transcription errors and provide the best precision and accuracy. The system takes important measurements of the eye and captures high-resolution digital images of the eye in one step. Additionally, the VERION provides comprehensive astigmatism management by providing accurate measurements for astigmatic IOL’s and enabling more accurate surgery with image guidance for the best placement of the astigmatic IOL in the eye.

The first step to cataract surgery at the Eye Clinic of Austin is to schedule a cataract consultation.

At the cataract consultation we discuss vision issues, refractive options, and what to expect from surgery. We review your contact lens and/or eyeglass history and run tests to determine the severity of your cataract. Eye Clinic of Austin uses the most advanced technology today to insure we take proper measurements during this consultation. The following are some of the tests we use to measure:

Holladay IOL Consultant

The Holladay IOL Consultant is a database program which assists Eye Clinic of Austin’s surgeons with intraocular lens power calculations. Absolutely one of the best calculation methods, this system also allows our eye surgeons the ability to calculate surgically-induced astigmatism and back-calculating values to understand the source of refractive surprises.

LENSTAR LS900

The LENSTAR LS900 is a device that in one single measurement can provide a patient’s lens thickness, lens position, and retinal thickness.

Once testing and measurements are complete, one of our eye surgeons will discuss the recommended procedure for your eyes. The fee for your consultation will be billed to your insurance company; it is usually, but not always, covered by insurance. This 2-2½ hour dilated consultation typically includes a complete review of overall eye and systemic health, plus an assessment of other eye conditions and an evaluation of the retina.

After the best procedure has been determined, we can schedule a procedure date and any additional pre-operative testing required.

Recovery & Aftercare

Complete recovery after cataract surgery takes two to three weeks, but most patients return to work the next day and strenuous activity after one week. The ability to see without contact lenses or glasses should begin immediately.

Risks

True of any surgery, cataract surgery can pose some risks like infection or bleeding. However, it is one of the most safest and effective of all medical procedures. If you are taking certain medications that can increase the risk of bleeding, we may ask you to stop taking the medicine temporarily before cataract surgery. It’s also very important to wash your hands before touching the eye and keep the eye clean to avoid any infection.

Video Patient Testimonials

We will let the results speak for themselves. Head over to our video patient testimonials page to hear some of our patients talk about their experiences in their own words.

Cataract Educational Videos

If you’d like to learn more about cataract surgery, we have a series of short educational videos for you. Visit this link or text SB Austin to 72000 to access the videos.