ACE’s highly skilled local cataract and refractive surgeons and corneal specialists perform a variety of surgeries to help those in need regain as much of their sight as possible. These sight-restoring eye surgeries mitigate or correct vision-impairing conditions such as cataracts, pterygiums, eyelid lesions, ptosis and more.
A cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Most cataracts are related to aging, and most commonly occur in people over the age of 55. However, cataracts can occasionally develop in infants and young children too. It is common to develop cataracts in both eyes, but one eye may have poorer vision than the other. Early symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, glare, difficulty reading and trouble seeing at night. Cataracts generally progress very slowly, so surgery may not be necessary for several years, if ever. For some people with mild cataracts, simply updating their eyeglass or contact lens prescription is enough to restore their vision to a functional level. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent cataract from developing. At this time, surgery is the only form of treatment for vision-impairing cataracts.
ACE’s team of highly skilled surgeons offers a modern outpatient, no-needle, no-stitch, no-patch cataract removal and lens implant procedure, in a specialized environment. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that can quickly and painlessly improve your vision. Many patients’ vision even improves beyond what it was before they developed the cataract.
During cataract surgery, a small incision is made in the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye. The surgeon removes the natural lens that has become clouded and replaces it with a plastic, artificial lens that is permanent, requires no care, and can significantly improve vision. Newer artificial lenses can have the natural focusing ability of a young lens, allowing for distance and some near vision, as well.
There are three basic types of intraocular lenses (IOLs): monofocal, astigmatic (toric), and multifocal lenses.
Depending on your current vision and lifestyle, your eye doctor and cataract surgeon will be able to advise you on which IOL is best suited for your needs.
A pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye,” is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue that lines your eyelids and covers your eyeball. It usually forms on the side closest to your nose and grows toward the pupil area. A pterygium can permanently disfigure the eye and cause discomfort and blurry vision.
While the primary cause of pterygia seems to be the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, dust and wind are sometimes implicated too, as is dry eye disease. Because of this, people who spend a lot of time outdoors for work or recreation have an increased risk of developing a pterygium.
The recommended treatment for a pterygium depends on its size, growth, and symptoms it causes. Regardless of its severity, your eye doctor will want to carefully monitor it in order to prevent permanent damage to the eye. Smaller pterygia can sometimes be treated with lubricants or topical cyclosporine to help reduce dryness, as well as mild steroidal eye drops to help reduce swelling and redness. Sometimes contact lenses can be used to cover and protect the growth from further dryness and UV exposure. For a severe pterygium, surgery may be required to excise the growth. Surgery for pterygium removal is an outpatient procedure, usually lasting less than an hour. You should be able to return to work or normal activities the next day, though you may be required to wear a protective eye patch for a day or two.
Ptosis is the involuntary drooping of the upper eyelid of one or both eyes, which has the potential to interfere with a person’s vision. While this condition can occur in children and younger adults, in most cases, ptosis is an age-related condition that develops slowly during the later years of life. Ptosis is generally associated with the muscle that moves and holds the upper eyelid, the levator muscle. As we age, the levator tendon may stretch, thin or loosen its attachment to the eyelid, resulting in sagging of the eyelid. In some cases, ptosis can be associated with a neurological or paralytic disease, or previous eye surgery or diabetes.
Ptosis surgery is generally the best way to treat drooping eyelids. During surgery, your eye surgeon will tighten the levator muscle to help it lift the eyelid, restoring your vision and giving you an improved appearance. In some cases, when the levator muscle is too weak, the surgery may involve attaching the eyelid under the eyebrow. By doing so, your forehead muscles can take over for your levator muscles in lifting the eyelid.
