Surgical Services

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. The clouding varies in degree from slight to complete obstruction of the passage of light.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision
• Shadows and color vision become less vivid
• Glare, sensitive to light
• Seeing "halos" around lights
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Double vision in a single eye

Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:

• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• Long term exposure to ultraviolet light
• Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as that used in X-rays and cancer radiation therapy
• Family history of cataracts
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Previous eye injury or trauma
• Previous eye surgery
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Smoking

How cataract surgery is performed
Cataract surgery is performed by the ophthalmologist (surgeon), guided with a specialized microscope and a phacoemulsification (phaco) machine. The surgeon makes an incision (capsulotomy) into the capsule of the cloudy lens to surgically remove it. Two types of eye surgery can be used to remove cataracts: extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE).

ECCE surgery consists of removing the lens, but leaving the majority of the lens capsule intact. High frequency sound waves (phacoemulsification) are sometimes used to break up the lens before extraction.

Intra-capsular (ICCE) surgery involves removing the lens and lens capsule, but it is rarely performed in modern practice.

In either extracapsular surgery or intracapsular surgery, the cataractous lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens (an intraocular lens implant) which stays in the eye permanently.

Cataract operations are usually performed using a local anesthetic, and sedative medication given through the I.V. Patients go home the same day.

Our surgeons perform many different types of eyelid surgery, including upper eyelid repair, lower eyelid repair, eye brow repair, and cosmetic surgery. Listed below are the most common types of eyelid procedures performed.

Blepharoplasty
Is a surgical eyelid repair involving removal of excess skin and repositioning the surrounding muscles and tendons. This procedure can be performed on the upper eyelids as well as the lower eyelids. This procedure can either be a functional procedure covered by insurance, or a cosmetic procedure. When performed on the lower eyelids, it is almost always a cosmetic procedure.

Entropion
Is a medical condition in which the upper or lower eyelid (lower in most cases) turns inward, causing the eyelashes to irritate the cornea. The irritation can lead to redness, pain, sensitivity to light or decreased vision. There can also be sagging skin around the affected eye. Surgical repair involves removal of skin and tightening the eyelid and eyelashes into a corrected position.

Ectropion
Is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outward, and usually caused by weakening of tissue due to aging and/or facial nerve palsy. Surgery is recommended if there is chronic conjunctivitis, and corneal irritation or damage. Surgical repair involves repositioning of skin into a corrected position.

Browplasty
Is commonly known as a forehead lift. It is a cosmetic procedure used to elevate drooping eyebrows that may obstruct vision and/or remove deep worry lines that run across the forehead. A forehead lift is commonly performed to smooth and/or eliminate the wrinkles that have developed over time, and that may cause one to look angry, tired, or other unintended emotions. After surgery, patients have a more youthful appearance.

Cosmetic procedures
Bilateral upper eyelid repair, bilateral lower eyelid repair and bilateral Browplasty are the most common types of cosmetic procedures performed. Kearney Eye Surgical Center offers competitive cosmetic pricing. Consider having your cosmetic procedure performed by a surgeon who is trained in cosmetic repair but also who is specialized in the eye and structures surrounding the eye.

Nd: YAG Lasers (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) are used in ophthalmology to correct posterior capsular opacification (clouding of capsule), a condition that may occur after cataract surgery. The neodymuim-doped yttrium aluminun garnet is a crystal that is used in this type of laser. This procedure does not require anesthesia, as there is little to no discomfort.

Our surgeons also perform specialized eye related procedures including:

• Iris Repair
• Pterygium Repair
• Conjunctival Biopsies
• ...and many others