What Is a Cataract?
The term cataracts refers to the eye’s natural lens. Clear at birth, the lens becomes cloudy over time, causing vision problems and can eventually cause blindness if left untreated. Cataracts are completely normal and typically develop sometime in our 50s or 60s. Surgery is the only treatment for a cataract. You should consider surgery when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with your daily activities.
Can Cataracts Be Prevented?
Most cataracts occur with age. However, a good, balanced diet, protection from the sun, and restraint from smoking can delay the development of cataracts.
What Are My Treatment Options?
Cataract Surgery (Removal)
Cataract surgery is a routine, virtually painless outpatient procedure that replaces your clouded lens with a clear intraocular lens implant. Cataract removal is performed through a procedure called phacoemulsification. In this procedure, high-energy ultrasound waves are used to gently remove your cataract. In most cases, we use only eye drop anesthesia, allowing our patients the fastest possible recovery. Once the cataract is removed, a permanent, artificial lens is inserted. It is not uncommon for our patients to have the benefit of dramatically improved vision within a few hours of their procedure.
Clear Lens Exchange
For those with presbyopia that are not yet candidates for cataract removal, your surgeon may offer an elective procedure known as clear lens exchange. This procedure uses the same successful techniques as modern cataract surgery by replacing your natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) designed to reduce or eliminate your need for readers, bifocals or even trifocals.
Results After Cataract Treatment
I’ve been in business and observed interactions between customers and employees my whole life. I cannot say enough about how impressed and pleased I was with my entire experience with Longwood Eye & LASIK Center. From the first phone call to set up the appointment, to the time Dr. Warren spent with me before and after my surgery, and all of my pre and post-operative appointments, it was a truly a pleasant experience!
Three of my friends had similar cataract procedures, and prior to my conversation with them, I had no idea that this type of procedure was available. It is totally remarkable how I feel and how my vision has improved without the use of contact lenses. Simply put, my results are outstanding and I have never experienced this level of professionalism and care, and I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Warren and his team at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center.
-Michael M – Cataract Surgery with John Warren, MD
Which Lens Is Best for Me?
Distance Correcting Monofocal IOLs
Traditionally, the lens implant used for cataract surgery is a monofocal IOL. In most cases, the monofocal lens provides good distance vision for driving, walking, and some everyday activities. However, most people receiving monofocal lenses still require reading glasses or bifocals to have a full range of vision.
- Traditional
- Advanced
Astigmatism Correcting IOLs
Approximately 20% of cataract surgery patients have a significant degree of astigmatism. Astigmatism creates distortion in vision and is not corrected by traditional cataract or lens replacement surgery. The unique design of the Toric IOL makes it possible to provide quality distance vision and reduce or eliminate astigmatism at the same time.
- Clareon TORIC
- Tecnis TORIC
- enVista TORIC
Enhanced vision option
This option combines the optics of advanced wavefront-designed monofocal IOL with modern surgical planning and techniques to provide a higher quality and overall enhanced vision with a monofocal designed IOL. These techniques will also further reduce or eliminate your need for distance glasses including low levels of pre-existing astigmatism. In a clinical study, these more advanced optics provided improved visibility, better contrast sensitivity, and reduced glare.
Vision correction decisions are among the most important you will ever make. There are many intraocular lens (IOL) options available, including traditional monofocal, advanced monofocal, toric and multifocal, IOLs. Your doctor will discuss all the options available and recommend the IOL that is best for you.
Presbyopic Correcting IOLs
Previous lens replacement technologies provided only one improved focal point, distance, leaving people dependent on readers or bifocals after cataract surgery. Furthermore, in the past, those who were not yet cataract surgery candidates had no good alternatives to readers, bifocals, or trifocals. Recent advances in lens technology now make it possible to improve vision at all ranges, near through distance, with increased freedom from glasses or contact lenses. Our doctors are proud to offer the most advanced multifocal IOLs to give our patients the best possible vision.
- Tecnis Synergy Multifocal
- Clareon PanOptix Multifocal
What Are the Risks Associated with Lens Replacement Surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. These may include infection, retinal detachment, an increase in eye pressure, reactions to medications, and vision changes. Our doctors will discuss all risks and benefits with you before your surgery.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Common side effects include redness, scratchiness, and light sensitivity. You may also experience glare, halos around lights, and blurred vision. These side effects may make it more difficult to see while driving at night or working in low light for a period of time, however they generally resolve over time.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
Cataract surgery is generally a simple, outpatient procedure requiring only a few hours of your time. Patients should plan on being at the surgery center for about 2-3 hours.
Where Will My Surgery Be Performed?
Your lens replacement procedure will be performed by one of our surgeons in an outpatient surgery center or hospital facility.
What Can I Expect After My Surgery?
After a short stay in the outpatient recovery area, you will be ready to go home. Plan to have someone drive you home. Everyone heals differently, but most patients can return to their normal activities the very next day. You will return to our office for a postoperative visit the next day. You will notice an improvement in your vision at that time which will continue to sharpen over the next 30 days. Eye drops will be prescribed to prevent infection and help your eye to heal.
How Will I See After Cataract Surgery?
Once the cloudy lens is removed, you will see a dramatic improvement in the clarity of your vision. Colors will be brighter, more vivid. And advanced lens implants, such as Tecnis, ReSTOR, and Crystalens, can deliver vision that is uniquely suited to your lifestyle. Dr. Warren and Dr. Fay will talk with you to understand your vision needs and can recommend a lens implant that gives you a fuller range of vision, allowing you to spend most of your day without glasses.
Will I Need to Wear Glasses After My Cataract Surgery?
During traditional cataract surgery, a single focus lens is implanted. Often times this gives patients good distance vision but still requires them to wear reading glasses for near vision. However, we offer our patients the option for a multifocal or accommodating lens implant that may allow them good vision at any distance, near through far.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about cataract surgery and would like to see if you are a good candidate, please call 1-855-286-2020 or request a consultation online.
Testimonials
I recently had cataract surgery in Gardner. Dr. Warren is an outstanding Doctor. The staff at the center made sure I was completely comfortable and alleviated any and all apprehension I had! I highly recommend this team!June 18, 2024
I went in for a LASIK consultation and after confirming that I was a good candidate with Dr. Walkowiak they were able to find me an appointment later that week. He explained the whole procedure to me and what I would have to do the day of. Dr. Warren was the one who did my surgery and he explained exactly what he was doing while he was doing it. It was a quick easy procedure and they made sure I was ok before letting me leave. The next day I went in for my follow up and was reading at 20/20. I got a couple more follow-up visits and was told if I had any questions or problems to give them a call. This was a very pleasant professional experience and they made me feel comfortable the whole time. With the overall experience and the reasonable flat rate, I don't think I could've found a better place to get this done.June 18, 2024
I researched where to get LASIK for months before I chose this place, and I’m so glad I did. I could not recommend them any more. I was SO nervous about the procedure (especially on the day of) but the entire team was so caring and informative every step of the way. They really made the whole experience amazingly smooth, quick and efficient. They clearly care about what they do. And I honestly can’t believe how affordable it was for the level of service they provide! Now that I’ve had it done, I can’t believe I didn’t get it sooner. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made!June 17, 2024
Dr. Glavine took over from my previous eye doctor of many years and she has been great.June 17, 2024
My sister had her surgery done here. She had nothing but a wonderful experience and when I discussed the possibility of wanting to have it done myself, she couldn't recommend them enough. My consultation, pre-op, surgery, and post op appointments were handled very well and everyone was super professional. I've already referred several people to them. After wearing glasses for 30 years, I'm finally glasses free!June 16, 2024
This is the BEST eye care place I have ever been to. All the staff are extremely nice, polite and caring. I had LASIK eye surgery done and not only did they schedule everything out perfectly with my availability but every visit made me feel comfortable with my decision and even though I was very nervous the day of surgery everyone made me feel calm and relaxed during the procedure. I would HIGHLY recommend this place to everyone looking to get LASIK at such a great affordable cost with great people and even just for routine eye care because everyone here is amazing!June 15, 2024
I couldn't be more pleased with my recent LASIK procedure at Longwood Eye and LASIK in West Springfield. The center's reputation precedes itself and I got my referral from my reputable eye doctor in a neighboring town. The evaluation process was thorough, the doctors/surgeons have decades of experience, the staff is super nice and the equipment is modern German engineered. If all of that is not enough for you, they offer the most affordable price for this complex procedure. Highly recommend to anyone who needs eyesight correction.June 14, 2024
Getting LASIK was a non-event with Longwood Eye and LASIK … it was AMAZING. Customer service was great, prompt assistance when I had pharmacy drama, easy scheduling, understandable pre and post op instructions, kind people, and the procedure itself was a walk in the park. You could tell they’d done it a million times, but still cared for everyone. And on top of all that, the price was great, and financing was an option. I would 100% do it again.June 13, 2024
In Jan 2021 I had LASIK eye surgery here and waited a full year to write a review so that I truly had a sense of the healing process and how my vision turned out. I did a LOT of research ahead of selecting the Eye and LASIK Center and looked at options all over New England and am happy I went with this location. They were informative, upfront about pricing, knowledgeable, and the facility was clean, professional feeling and welcoming. The biggest draw for me was when they explained that when they do the cut of the flap they do it in a “c” instead of a “u” like many places which means they only cut one nerve into the eye instead of two, which means your eye can still detect the need for tears so dry eye is much less of an issue. Even the fact that they explained this to me was more info than I received at a consult at a different place and made me feel confident in using them. They also did more thorough tests upfront and said I needed to not wear my contacts for two weeks prior to properly allow my eyes to hear (the other place said only a few days and didn’t mention that my eyes were irritated and needed medicated drops to heal them). I did have a bit of an unpleasant experience with my follow up consult before the procedure, where I two young women who seems very new, do my preliminary tests and they acted like they didn’t really know what they were doing and made me uncomfortable and very very nervous, but I spoke with the doctor who did all the secondary tests and he was reassuring, but it still made me second guess my decision a bit though I still decided to go through with it. The day of the procedure went very smoothly and exactly as they had explained and as I had expected from all my research. The procedure was so quick and I was actually surprised that the Dr was chatting with me during it. It was definitely weird to experience but wasn’t painful at all. The worst part was the ride home (which was an hour for me) and that was when my eyes felt like I had rubbed onions in them but after getting home and taking a long nap the pain had subsided and I could see. My sight continued to heal for about a month that I could tell and in the first week every day was noticeably better - even though I could see it was hard to focus from near to far for that first week and distance wasn’t perfect. I took all the eye drops, omega3 pills and followed all the directions and after a year I rarely feel the need eye drops at all and am so so happy I went through with the surgery. I don’t see perfectly at night, but I never did while using contacts either, so it doesn’t bother me and the benefits of not dealing with the issues, frustration and pain of wearing contacts largely outweighs a little blurriness at night, which is not even something I notice all the time. I would recommend this location if you are looking for a place to get LASIK that is reliable and competent. I am happy every day that I had LASIK and would go back here again, as well as recommended it to friends and family.June 12, 2024
It’s been almost 2 months since I had LASIK done. Prior to this procedure I have been wearing contact lenses for over 10 years. I’m finally free of the hassle of putting them in every morning and taking them out at night. The staff here and the surgeon were awesome. I am very happy with the outcome and would recommend this place to anyone that is thinking about LASIK.June 11, 2024
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