Everything You Need To Know About Refractive Cataract Surgery

Unfortunately, loss of vision can prevent you from performing daily tasks, such as reading or driving. When cataracts cause your vision to become cloudy or foggy, there is no effective treatment option other than surgery. Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Young H. Choi is pleased to offer advanced refractive cataract surgery to patients in Birmingham, AL. If you are suffering from cataracts, you can learn if this procedure can save your vision.

So what is refractive cataract surgery, and what happens during cataract surgery? In this procedure, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye and replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs are also designed to correct issues such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Through these methods, patients are less likely to need corrective lenses after surgery. We encourage you to call the professionals at Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center for a consultation.

Have you been diagnosed with cataracts?

Refractive cataract surgery offers patients improved vision beyond what basic cataract surgery provides. When you select the refractive option, we can address problems like astigmatism and nearsightedness in addition to treating cataracts. Using the latest technology, Dr. Choi can perform refractive cataract surgery with laser precision. Ideal candidates for treatment have been diagnosed with mild to severe cataracts and would like to correct common refractive errors.

When you visit our clinic, we can perform an examination to see if you are a fit for refractive cataract surgery and cataract removal. It is often recommended to Birmingham, AL patients over the age of 40 who are interested in reducing their dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Dr. Choi will help review your options, including which intraocular lens will work best for you. These choices are made based on your current visual acuity, overall health, and personal preferences.

What happens during cataract surgery?

So what is refractive cataract surgery, and what happens during cataract surgery? This is a premium procedure that uses state-of-the-art IOLs to improve your vision, instead of the traditional IOLs used in basic procedures. It is an outpatient surgery performed on-site at our facility and usually takes about an hour to complete. To begin the process, Dr. Choi will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area. If you feel nervous or anxious, we can offer a mild sedative. We then use laser technology to create a tiny incision in the cornea. This allows us to remove the cataract and damaged lens. The chosen intraocular lens is then carefully inserted.

After cataract removal

The recovery period for refractive cataract surgery does vary from patient to patient. Before surgery, Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center offers you a set of detailed guidelines to follow during the recovery process. It is essential to carefully follow any instructions to achieve optimal results. Our administrative staff will schedule a follow-up appointment in 1 – 2 days and another one in several weeks so we can continue to check on your progress.

After cataract removal, patients experience mild discomfort and sensitivity to light, but this is temporary and should dissipate soon after. We also ask that you refrain from rubbing or scratching your eyes at this time. Otherwise, you may risk harming the healing tissue. Over the next few days, you should notice an improvement as the eyes begin to heal and adjust to your new visual acuity. If you have concerns about the healing process, please reach out to Dr. Choi.

Your premium lens options

Refractive cataract surgery is so unique because of the premium intraocular lenses involved. Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center offers a wide range of options to treat common vision issues like astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. Some implants can even correct near vision in one eye and distance vision in the other. This allows you to see objects both near and far. Other lenses help Birmingham, AL patients focus incoming light onto the retina. This feature may reduce or eliminate severe astigmatism. With these options and more, patients can enjoy improved visual acuity and reduce the risk of unwanted halos, flashes, and glares.

Learn more about refractive cataract surgery

When neglected, cataracts will seriously impact your day-to-day life and may even cause blindness. No one should have to suffer from poor or cloudy vision. Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center offers top care so patients can safely and effectively restore their eye health. We can even improve your vision with premium intraocular lenses! When you are ready to discuss your options for refractive cataract surgery and cataract removal, call our Vestavia Hills, AL office to schedule an appointment with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Young H. Choi. We are proud to provide cutting-edge solutions and technology for refractive surgeries.