Boca Raton's Trusted Cataract Surgeons for 30+ Years

It might not come as much of a surprise that cataracts affect your vision. Some changes you can experience include:

The team at Cohen Laser & Vision Center recommends coming in for an evaluation once you start noticing vision changes, as cataracts are only one cause of vision problems. Without proper and timely care, your cataract can lead to significant vision loss.

Treating your cataract depends on how it’s affecting your vision. During the early stages of a cataract, the team at Cohen Laser & Vision Center usually recommends frequent monitoring and updating glasses prescriptions for as long as possible. As the cataract continues to grow, surgical removal will become necessary. The team at Cohen Laser & Vision Center recommends cataract surgery when your vision loss interferes with your daily activities including reading, driving, and watching TV. Once the cataract is removed, a new intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted at the same time restoring vision.

Femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) is a state-of-the-art modification of conventional surgery. This special laser assists the surgeon during certain steps of the procedure, to hopefully reduce the total time and energy needed to break up and remove the cataract. The advantage of FLACS is improved safety and quicker healing times in some patients, especially those with more mature or dense cataracts. The doctors at CLVC use the Alcon LENSx and LENSAR lasers at their facilities. These advanced laser systems can also make special marks in the cornea to treat an astigmatism without the need for a toric IOL, which may reduce the total cost of the procedure. However, FLACS is not covered by insurance and is considered optional.

The doctors at Cohen Laser & Vision Center are skilled surgeons who utilize the most advanced tools and techniques available to perform cataract surgery. Before the procedure, the team performs a series of special tests and measurements to determine which treatment options and intraocular lens implants (IOLs) are appropriate. Cataract surgery with IOL implantation typically takes about 10-15 minutes and is performed either in-office or at a surgery center under local anesthesia. While most patients are not asleep during the procedure, the team at CLVC will ensure you are comfortable and relaxed the entire time. Most patients do not report any significant pain during or after the surgery. You will receive detailed pre- and post-operative instructions, which includes limited physical activity, wearing protective eye shields, and using medicated eye drops for several weeks after the procedure. Furthermore, the doctor will examine you closely in the days and weeks after surgery to ensure your eye is healing as expected. Some patients experience swelling, tearing, and discomfort after cataract surgery for the first few days. It can take several weeks to fully recover and achieve your final visual acuity.

Modern cataract surgery is generally a safe, quick, and painless procedure. Your surgeon will use special instruments to make small incisions through the edges of the cornea, which close naturally without the need for glue or sutures. These incisions allow the doctor to access the cataract behind the dilated iris.

Using careful maneuvers, Dr. Cohen breaks up the cataract into small fragments and aspirates the material out of the eye. Once the cataract is completely removed, a special intraocular lens (IOL) is placed into the eye to replace the natural lens and focus light properly. This artificial lens is made of a bio-compatible plastic that will remain in your eye indefinitely, but it can be removed later in very rare circumstances.

Modern cataract surgery is generally very safe. Most patients experience dramatically improved vision, both with and without glasses, compared to before the operation. However, complications can still occur.

Most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during the procedure, but oftentimes pressure and mild irritation can be noted. Medications are given by mouth or IV to promote relaxation and ease anxiety, but generally minimal to no active sedation is used since the surgery is so quick.

Like all procedures, the risk of infection is of highest importance. Antibiotic drops and sterilization solution is used to prepare the eyes before, during, and after surgery to minimize the risk of infection. Injections can occur at any point, but generally present within the first week or two after surgery and are usually accompanied by sudden pain and vision loss. This occurrence is fortunately very, very rare and can still be managed in most cases with early treatment and close monitoring.

Other risks of cataract surgery involve damage to important anatomic structures in the eye during or after surgery, which may result in additional procedures to remove leftover cataract material or position a special type of intraocular lens. Uncontrolled inflammation can also cause vision changes and eye pain, so generally post-operative anti-inflammatory drops are used for several weeks after the procedure as well.

Patients achieve excellent results at CLVC due to the care and close supervision we provide all our patients.

No. Once a cataract is successfully removed during cataract surgery the structure can never grow back. Instead, the replacement IOL serves the same purpose as the natural lens, providing clear and focused vision. Some people describe a “secondary cataract” as the sensation of cataract symptoms returning weeks or months after surgery. This problem is due to a posterior capsular opacification or “PCO” and is caused by residual cataract cells growing on the new lens capsule. The lens or cataract itself did not regenerate. Treatment of a PCO involves using a special YAG laser to polish off this debris. The procedure takes about 5 minutes and does not cause any discomfort or pain. Your doctor will advise if any post-surgical vision changes are due to a PCO and recommend if such a treatment is advised. While we expect a patient’s vision to remain stable after surgery for many years, subtle variations in one’s refraction may occur in some patients regardless of the type of IOL used. This may require spectacle correction or additional surgery.