Laser Cataract Surgery in Faribault & Northfield

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataracts occur as part of the normal aging process, and studies show that virtually everyone over age 65 has some cataract formation in their eyes. Looking for details on the typical clinic process for cataract treatment? View our video above.

The normally clear lens in the eye becomes yellowed, interfering with light as it enters the eye. As a result, your vision can be affected in any number of ways, including blurred vision, bad night vision, reduced vision in low lighting, trouble with street and road signs, or problems with small print.

The amount and pattern of cloudiness within the lens can vary, and you may not know it is present since cataracts do not cause watery, achy or sore eyes. Nor will they cause red or irritated eyes.

Most age-related cataracts progress gradually over many years. Other cataracts, especially in younger adults and people with diabetes, may progress rapidly. The aging process, family history, diabetes or other medical problems, smoking, trauma to the eye, some medications, and excessive unprotected UV exposure are known causes of cataracts.

Cataract Surgery Options

It can be helpful to think of the lens in the eye as a dirty windshield on a car. It will not harm the eye to leave the cataract in place, and results are no different if the cataract is removed sooner or later. You should remove your cataract only when you decide you want it removed to make your vision better.

How dirty is your windshield? You tell us…you’re the one looking through it. If it bothers you, fix it. If not, wait until it does bother you.

A thorough eye examination by your ophthalmologist can detect the presence of a cataract, as well as any other eye conditions. Cataract surgery is necessary when your decreased vision interferes with your everyday activities.

Cataract surgery has become the most common surgery performed on adults in the United States. During this procedure, the cloudy lens of your eye is removed and replaced with a clear lens implant, placed directly into the eye to reduce or eliminate the need for any glasses after surgery.

The newest implants (called multifocal implants, or presbyopia-correcting implants) can even provide sharp vision at both distance and up close, reducing or eliminating the need for any kind of glasses, including reading glasses after surgery.

This procedure, performed with sterile technique on an outpatient basis at our clinic, is extremely safe, predictable and effective, and allows for restoration of vision hampered by the cataract.

Rest assured, lens implants have been a standard part of cataract surgery for the last 25 years. Note that standard cataract surgery is not designed to correct astigmatism.

Following cataract surgery, sometimes the posterior capsule will cloud over. In the video above, Dr. Michael Richie explains this laser eye Treatment and a YAG Laser Capsulotomy is performed.

Please contact us to discuss your options for Cataract Care.