Cataract Surgery
The lens in your eye behaves much like the lens of a camera. It takes in light, focuses images, it can suffer from wear and tear and ultimately, it can be replaced. Cataract surgery removes a clouded lens and replaces it with a new, synthetic lens, improving both the quality of your vision and the quality of your life.
Cataract surgery has come a long way since the first artificial lens was implanted during the 1940’s. What used to require an overnight hospital stay and a lengthy recovery can now be one of the simplest surgeries performed. While the same basic technique of removing the natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens remains the same, surgical methods have kept pace with advances in technology.
When to Consider Cataract Surgery
Eventually, despite the best efforts of new glasses, cataract symptoms progress to the point of requiring Advanced Laser Cataract Surgery. Once cataracts have reached this point, waiting too long is ill-advised due to a litany of potential hazards that often arise. First and foremost, adults with moderate to significant cataracts are involved in far more motor vehicle accidents than age-related peers who have had previous cataract surgery. Second, trip and fall accidents, which can cause potentially fatal broken hips and bones, are also more common with untreated advanced cataracts. When it is determined that cataract surgery is the best option to correct your vision, the procedure is straightforward and quick, producing excellent results.
For thirty years, Dr. Alan Mendelsohn has been considered a preeminent cataract surgeon in Broward County. As a result of his outstanding surgical and clinical skills, Alan Mendelsohn MD, FACS was awarded the prestigious “Top Doctor” Award, as voted by South Florida physicians, for 12 consecutive years.
Dr. Mendelsohn specializes in advanced laser cataract surgery, which is far safer and more accurate than older cataract surgery techniques with scalpels. Lasers allow Drs. Mendelsohn to make gentle, ultraprecise incisions in the lens and cornea, thereby producing better visual outcomes. The corneal incision is extremely small and the cornea heals itself quickly, so no stitches are needed. No patches or injections to the eye are required for this five-minute procedure, after which, a new lens (known as an intraocular lens or IOL) is then inserted in place of the old lens. With this technique, cataract surgery is virtually pain free, and the actual lens implant can be completed in minutes. In fact, most patients are back to their normal activities the very next day.
We are delighted to let you know that we offer cataract surgery with the AcrySof® family of lenses – the most advanced and trusted intraocular lenses (IOLs) in the world. Dr. Alan Mendelsohn uses lens implants that have UV blocker and blue light filtration, features that are vitally important to South Floridians. With the AcrySof® PanOptix multifocal IOLs, Dr. Mendelsohn can not only correct most patients’ cataracts but also enable them to see near, far, and everywhere in between. His patients now enjoy the ability to read, drive and work on the computer without the need of glasses or bifocals.
Previously, if an individual had a moderate to large amount of astigmatism, their vision could not be fully corrected at the time of cataract surgery, resulting in the need for full-time eyeglass. However, thanks to a wonderful technological breakthrough, an AcrySof® Toric IOL can now be implanted at the time of cataract surgery to improve quality distance vision and decrease these patients’ dependency on glasses.
There is always a risk of complication or infection for any surgical procedure; however, there are steps to address any issues that may arise. Prior to the procedure, Dr. Mendelsohn will discuss these risks and address any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are interested in scheduling your cataract surgery with Dr. Mendelsohn at Eye Surgeons and Consultants of Hollywood, Florida, please be sure to call (954)894-1500 to book your consultation!