Cataracts in Huntington Beach

Clarity Eye Group, an NVISION Eye Center partner, has helped numerous Orange County cataracts patients restore clear, crisp vision. Our doctors specialize in advanced forms of cataract surgery and use many of the latest technologies and techniques for excellent outcomes. We provide care to patients throughout Orange County, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminster, Costa Mesa and Seal Beach.

Cataract: What Is It?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the part of the eye thta acts like a camera lens and focuses light coming into the eye onto the retina at the back of the eye. Cataracts appear when protein and dead cells inside the eye build up on the lens, much like a dirty window inside your eye. The buildup makes it very difficult for light to pass through, in turn making vision appear foggy or partially obscured in spots. Over time, the lens can become so cloudy that it needs to be replaced.

Cataracts cannot be prevented or reversed. However, they can be removed by a surgical procedure in which the clouded lens is removed and replaced with a clear, artificial one that is implanted in the eye. The artificial lens is known as an intraocular lens, or IOL.

The highly experienced Orange County cataracts surgeons at Clarity Eye Group perform cataract surgery in one of two ways: extracapsular cataract surgery or intracapsular cataract surgery. With extracapsular cataract surgery, the lens is removed and the capsule holding it is left partially intact to support the artificial lens. With intracapsular surgery, the lens and capsule are removed in one piece.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

Step 3 – The surgeon correctly positions the lens to restore the patient’s vision.

Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

Until 2011, cataract surgery was performed using a blade. While traditional cataract surgery is a safe and effective way to improve your vision, state-of-the-art femtosecond lasers allow for a customized procedure with enhanced computer-controlled precision. This results in some key benefits that include:

• Minimally invasive procedure
• Outpatient surgery completed in under one hour
• Significantly reduced recovery time
• Excellent results

Clarity Eye Group utilizes only the best in femtosecond technology: the Catalys® Precision Laser System.

Both traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery are relatively short procedures, usually taking less than an hour to complete. They are performed under local anesthesia, most often without a hospital stay.

ORA System

If you have astigmatism, Clarity Eye Group also offers the ORA system, a state-of-the-art technology that provides our surgeons an added level of precision and safety for an optimal outcome. The ORA system evaluates your optical system and its unique imperfections after the cataract is removed; these on-demand measurements help us to determine the correct IOL power and position to give you the best possible visual result. Thanks to the ORA system, we can reduce or eliminate your need to wear glasses after surgery.

Enhanced Quality of Vision With Lifestyle Lenses

Clarity Eye Group is home to some of the most highly regarded Orange County multifocal IOL specialists. Our surgeons offer many types of premium IOLs, including ReStor, Tecnis, Crystalens and Panoptix multifocal lenses, to provide our patients with the best overall vision results. Over the years, Clarity Eye Group’s eye surgeons have become renowned as leading Orange County experts — a reputation that attracts numerous patients every year, including individuals from Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley and Westminster. During your consultation, our surgeons will educate you on how each type of IOL works, and recommend the perfect premium IOL to provide you with the results to meet your vison goals and reduce or possibly eliminate your dependence on glasses.

How a Premium IOL Can Enhance Your Vison After Cataract Surgery

Recovering From Cataract Surgery

Recovering from cataract surgery is usually a rapid and relatively painless process.

Your eyes may feel slightly itchy or uncomfortable immediately after surgery. You may have some sensitivity to light, and will be given a pair of sunglasses to wear on the ride home from the surgery center.

Initially after surgery, your vision may be blurry or cloudy as your visual system adjusts to your new IOL. Some patients describe temporarily “wavy” or otherwise distorted vision. You may recover clear vision within a few days or it could take up to a week or two to see clearly. Don’t worry — several days of discomfort and blurry vision are well worth the many years of clear vision you will enjoy after cataract surgery!

Special Precautions

You will be prescribed special eyedrops or other medications to prevent infection and control the pressure inside your eyes. Be sure to stay on schedule with the medications and take them exactly as prescribed. If you need to, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

It is very important that you avoid pressing or rubbing your healing eyes. You will be asked to wear an eye shield at night or when you nap to prevent accidentally touching or rubbing your eyes as you sleep.

While mild redness and discomfort are nothing to worry about, persistent or severe pain, vision loss, eyelid swelling or increased eye redness can suggest a complication. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact our doctors immediately.

Resuming Normal Activities

You can bathe and resume light television watching and computer work within a few hours of surgery. Avoid driving until your vision is clear enough to confidently get back on the road. You can go back to work within a few days of surgery. To reduce the risk of complications, avoid strenuous exercise as well as heavy lifting or bending for at least a week. Also, avoid swimming or going in hot tubs for a week after surgery.

Tips to Prepare for Recovery Ahead of Time

• You will receive sedation medication for surgery, which may make you drowsy. Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery and be available to run any necessary errands for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.
• You will be able to move around right after surgery, but you might not have a lot of energy. Prepare easy meals ahead of time in case you do not want to cook during recovery. Make sure you have plenty of clean clothing and linens so you don’t have to worry about doing laundry, either.
• If possible, avoid bending over or lifting anything heavy for the first week after surgery. Place essential kitchen or bathroom items at counter height to make them more easily accessible.

Follow Up Visits

Plan for several follow-up visits with the Clarity Eye Group team to examine your healing eyes. You will have the chance to bring up any concerns you have. If you need glasses, your doctor can advise when your eyes have healed enough for you to get your eyeglass prescription.

If you have questions for our team before or after a follow-up appointment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Common Questions About Cataract Surgery

Who is a candidate for cataract surgery?

You may be a candidate for cataract surgery if cataracts have impaired your vision so badly that you have trouble with daily activities like reading and driving. You should be healthy enough to undergo surgery and have reasonable expectations of the outcome.

What are the benefits of cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery can benefit your vision and your quality of life. With clearer vision, you can drive, read and watch television easily. You can enjoy an independent lifestyle, socialize and enjoy your favorite hobbies. Furthermore, studies also suggest that cataract surgery can reduce your risk of falling, and it may help you live longer.

How long does the procedure take?

Cataract surgery takes less than 30 minutes to perform.

How long does it take to recover?

Some patients are able to see clearly as soon as the day after surgery. Others need a few days or even up to a full month to see visual improvement.

When can I return to normal activity?

You can resume light activity within a few days after cataract surgery, as long as you are careful not to perform any strenuous activity or movements that involve placing your head lower than your body.

You can resume work within a few days of cataract surgery.

Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?

For the most part, cataract surgery should significantly reduce your dependence on glasses.

Whether you are reliant on glasses after cataract surgery depends on the overall health of your eyes, your visual needs and the type of IOL you select. For example, monofocal IOLs restore vision at a single fixed distance; if your monofocal IOL is set for distance vision, you will need glasses to read and perform other close tasks.

What if I decide against cataract surgery?

You might decide against cataract surgery if cataracts are not interfering with your lifestyle or your safety. If you are in the early stages of cataract development and do not have noticeable symptoms, there is no reason to remove your cataracts.

But cataracts will never go away on their own. If you decide against cataract surgery, we recommend you have regular eye exams to monitor their progression.

Contact the Orange County Cataracts Surgeons at Clarity Eye Group

Both types of cataract surgery are relatively short, usually taking less than an hour to complete, and are performed under local anesthesia, most often without a hospital stay. To learn more about cataract surgery in Orange County, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Clarity Eye Group today. The practice’s experienced eye care specialists can also explain the benefits of undergoing cataract surgery in conjunction with astigmatism correction. They also provide top quality care to Orange County, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach LASIK surgery patients. In addition, they specialize in helping Orange County eyelid surgery and Botox patients rejuvenate their facial appearance.

To learn more about cataract surgery in Orange County, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Clarity Eye Group today.