Cataract Surgery

1. Cataract Surgery Perfect Vision in Less than 10 Minutes

2. Table of contents What is a cataract? Are you at Risk? Cost of Surgery How to diagnose a cataract Preparation for cataract surgery Types of Anesthesia used during surgery Equipment needed Surgical steps Surgical steps continued Recovery process Common misconceptions about cataracts Possible complications during surgery Surgery demonstration video

3. When The lens of the eye becomes cloudy and starts to distort one’s vision this is known as a cataract • Surgery is required to remove the cloudy lens “cataract” and replace it with a artificial lens What is a cataract?

4. Are you at risk? Symptoms • Blurry vision • Loss of vision • Unable to Correct Vision with Eye Glasses • Difficulty seeing colors • Seeing double • Light sensitivity High risk factors • Age 39 and over • Highest risk over 59 years old • Family History of Eye Disease • Eye Injury • Certain Diseases • Diabetes • Down Syndrome

5. Cost of Surgery • Out of pocket expenses for cataracts surgery range from $500-$5000 • Out of pocket expenses are dependent upon insurance provider and surgeon • The type of lens needed for surgery will also effect the price

6. How to Diagnose a Cataract • Recognize abnormal vision symptoms • See a Ophthalmologist • Vision tests will be completed to determine if cataract surgery is necessary

7. Preparation for Cataract Surgery Go to an Ophthalmologist Obtain corrective lens from your Ophthalmologist Schedule cataract surgery Your are required to fast 8 hours prior to surgery Obtain informed consent for cataracts surgery Select type of anesthesia (i.e. local or optic nerve block) Surgery begins!

8. Types of Anesthesia used During Surgery • Topical anesthesia • Numbing drops • Intraocular numbing medication • Intravenous sedation as needed • Peribulbar nerve block • Intravenous sedation as needed • General anesthesia

9. Equipment Needed • Microscope • Phacoemulsification machine • Operating room stretcher • Instrument Table • Eye instruments • Blade to make incision • Phacoemulsification hand piece • Lens inserter

10. Surgical steps • Eye prep to clean eye immediately prior to surgical incision • Ensure patient is anesthetized properly • Focus operative eye under microscope • Incision is made by the surgeon • Cataract is defined • Phacoemulsification system used

11. Surgical steps continued 7) Surgeons examines for proper placement of lens 8) Antibiotic drops or injection of antibiotics 9) Patch or Shield is placed over the eye 10)Patient is taken to recovery after the procedure is complete

12. Recovery process Vision may be blurry for a short period after the surgery Eyes can become bloodshot Sometimes surgery can result in a black eye from anesthesia being injected below the eye

13. Common Misconceptions about Cataracts Cataracts do not grow back Cataracts do not spread from one eye to the other Cataracts may only be in one eye

14. Possible Complications during Surgery • Infection: Can be corrected with antibiotics • Opacification: Can be corrected with a Yag Laser • Posterior capsular tear: Very rare, Repaired with Virtectomy

15. Surgery Demonstration Video