Cataract Surgery
A cataract is when your natural lens becomes cloudy. This can cause halos around light, blurry vision, or haziness. Numerous factors can result in having cataracts such as age or injury. Cataracts are treatable and when they begin to effect daily living such as difficulty seeing at night, needing brighter lights for reading, or changes in the way you see color surgery can remove the cataract.
Cataract Surgery - Terms to Know
Monofocal Lens
You can opt for a monofocal lens to be used during surgery which has a single point of focus and will correct either near, intermediate, or distance vision. Glasses may be required to see at other distances.
Toric Lens
This is an artifical lens used during cataract surgery to correct astigmatism. Toric lenses are an additional out of pocket that are not covered by insurance.
Multifocal Lens
This lens aims to improve vision at different distances simultaneously. Multifocal lenses are an additional out of pocket that are not covered by insurance.
Femtosecond Laser
This is the most technologically advanced method to correct vision. The Femtosecond laser is used during surgery and creates a bladeless corneal incision resulting in more precise cuts than traditional cataract surgery. This laser is an additional out of pocket cost that is not covered by insurance.
With cataract surgery, your eye’s cloudy lens is removed and it will be replaced by an IOL (artificial lens implant called an intraocular lens).
FAQs
What do I do if I am interested in having cataract surgery?
Please call our office at 202-496-9181 expressing your interest and we can help schedule an appointment for you to have Dr. Adelson evaluate your cataracts.
Where is surgery performed?
All surgeries are performed at the Palisades Eye Surgery Center which is located at 4831 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. If you need to contact the surgery center directly they can be reached at: 301-657-8200.
Do I need to be cleared for surgery?
You will need to see your primary care doctor to clear you for surgery within 60 days of your surgery date. If you have a pacemaker you will need to see your cardiologist and have them perform a pacemaker interrogation report.
Do I need to fast before surgery?
You cannot have any solid food after midnight the night before your surgery. You can have water ONLY up until 2 hours before your procedure.
Click here to read all pre-op instructions!
What can I expect after surgery?
You cannot drive for 24 hours after the procedure. You will need to sleep with a shield over the eye that had surgery for 1 week. You will also need to refrain from any strenuous exercises for 1 week. You will follow up with Dr. Adelson at least 1 day after the surgery, 1 week after the surgery and approximately 1 month after the surgery.
What kind of anesthesia is used?
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) is used during surgery which means you will be awake, however, topical anesthetic is applied for numbing.