Cataract Surgery

More than 3.7 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States yearly, and results are overwhelmingly good for people with reduced vision due to cataracts. At Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge, which has locations in Bay Ridge and Sheepshead Bay, highly skilled surgeons Elias Aliprandis, MD, Irene Rusu, MD, and Brian Herschorn, MD, offer cataract surgery using the latest leading-edge approaches. The practice has a 30-year history of helping patients reclaim clear eyesight safely. Book your appointment online or call the nearest office today.

Who needs cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery removes clouded eye lenses and restores eyesight using intraocular lenses (IOLs), which are prescription built-in artificial lenses. Cataracts are prevalent in older adults today. 

If your cataracts disrupt your vision, you might need cataract surgery. Problems that cataracts cause include: 

• Difficulty driving
• Difficulty reading
• Significant glare from bright lights
• Halos around lights
• Colors looking faded
• Double vision

People with cataracts often need frequent prescription changes, but glasses won’t give you clear enough vision at some point anymore. In this situation, cataract surgery is usually the best way to reclaim your eyesight. 

How does cataract surgery work?

Cataract surgery involves ultrasound energy that breaks the clouded eye lens into tiny pieces, removing it from the eye, and placing a new IOL that helps focus on light so you can see clearly. 

Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge team performs femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery using the state-of-the-art LenSx® laser. Traditional cataract surgery requires manual incisions, but the LenSx laser carries out those previous manual steps more precisely. 

The laser also helps break down the cataract to reduce the total amount of ultrasound energy needed to remove the cataract. 

What kinds of IOLs are available for cataract surgery? 

Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge offer the latest IOL technology to maximize your quality of vision after cataract surgery.  Leading-edge new implants available include:

Multifocal IOLs
Multifocal IOLs correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness. Brand names like Alcon Panoptix®, Alcon Vivity®, and Tecnis Symfony® offer excellent results. While individual results vary, patients report 85% independence from glasses with multifocal IOLs, compared to 15% independence from glasses with a standard (one-distance) IOL. 

Toric IOLs
Toric IOLs, such as Alcon Acrysof Toric IQ®, treat distance vision and astigmatism. These lenses are helpful for people with high levels of fuzzy vision caused by astigmatism. 

How long after cataract surgery does it take to heal with better vision?

Visual recovery is rapid — people have better vision in a week or less, and some even enjoy improved vision the next day. 

Ready to talk about cataract surgery with an expert? Call Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge or click on the online booking feature to schedule your consultation today.

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