• Blurred vision
• Glare with lights
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Declining night vision
• Difficulty reading in low light
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions

If you think you may have cataracts, the first step is to schedule a cataract evaluation with one of our cataract surgeons.  This will be a comprehensive eye examination including a dilating exam and multiple tests.  The examination usually takes at least 2 hours to complete.

Modern Cataract surgery is a quick outpatient procedure performed at our state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center correcting your vision with little discomfort and rapid return to normal activities.  There have been so many technological advancements in cataract surgery which translates to added patients benefits, including improved visual outcomes, faster recoveries and increased safety.  Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center is proud to be on the forefront of these advancements and offer our patients the best possible technologies, practices and services to improve your potential for best-possible vision. 

During traditional cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist makes tiny incisions in your eye using a precise blade.  An ultrasonic probe is used to break up the cataract into tiny pieces (phacoemulsification), and remove through the tiny incision. An artificial lens (IOL)  is then inserted into your eye in the same location as your natural lens.  There are many different types of IOLs that can be implanted into your eye.  Your eye surgeon will discuss your choices and what is right for you during your cataract evaluation. 

Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center offers laser-assisted cataract surgery as an option for our patients. The LenSx® laser system provides higher levels of precision and accuracy to the surgery, creating a truly customized cataract surgery.  The LenSx® laser is a bladeless, computer driven laser that uses precise real-time-high-resolution digital images to map and measure the eye.  These measurements are then used to customize the surgery to the exact specifications of your eye, not attainable with traditional cataract surgery.  Astigmatism is also corrected with the LenSx® laser during the procedure allowing for better outcomes which increases the likelihood of seeing clearer without glasses.  Once it is determined that you will need cataract surgery, your surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for laser cataract surgery

During cataract surgery, an intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in the eye to restore clear vision.  Today more than ever, it is an exciting time for patients requiring an IOL, as your choices are now safer and more effective than ever.  These choices include; distance vision implants (Monofocal), Multifocal/Trifocal implants, Extended Depth of Focus implants and astigmatism correcting implants (Toric).  Recognizing the importance of staying on the cusp of technological innovations, Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center is proud offer a variety of lens implant options including monofocal IOLs, Acrysof Restor Multifocal IOL, Acrysof IQ PanOptix Multifocal IOL,  Acrysof IQ Vivity Extended Depth of Focus IOL, and Acrysof® Toric IOLs.

Monofocal IOLs are fixed lenses which are designed to improve your vision at one distance (distance, intermediate, or near).  Most people who have this lens implanted choose to have improved distance vision, and will need to wear glasses for reading. You can also choose to have better close vision for reading, but will then need glasses for distance, such as driving. Some patients can choose monovision.  Monovision is correcting one eye to have distance vision and the other eye corrected for near vision.  Monovision relies on the brain’s ability to compensate for the difference in each eye, often producing excellent near and far vision.  Your surgeon will discuss if you are a candidate for monovision. 

Multifocal/Trifocal IOLs are special lenses which continue to evolve today with designs and functions. The Acrysof IQ PanOptix Trifocal lens is the newest lens in this category.  Multifocal/Trifocal IOLs increases the ability to see far, intermediate, and near without the need for glasses.  Results can vary in patients depending on each person’s eyes and IOL choice, but most patients with Multifocal/Trifocal implants will achieve excellent sight over a broad range of vision.  Halos and glare can occur especially at night with these types of lenses, and your eye surgeon will discuss all these concerns with you to make the best decision. 

Extended Depth of Focus lens implants are the newest generation of intraocular lenses. The Acrysof IQ Vivity IOL is the newest lens in this category.  The Vivity lens uses a proprietary technology called X-Wave.  This technology works by bending light to enable a wider range of vision including; distance, intermediate and functional reading.  Unlike the multifocal lens implant that splits light with multiple zones, the Vivity IOL only bends light which will reduce or eliminate the side effects of glare and halos at night that can happen with the Multifocal implants. The Vivity lens allows patients to experience optimal vision in both bright and dim lighting.   

Toric lens implants correct astigmatism that is natural to many people.  Astigmatism is a very common condition where there is an abnormal shape to the cornea or lens.  Instead of being more spherical like a ball, the shape of the eye is more oval, like that of a football.  Astigmatism causes blurred and distorted vision in people who have higher amounts present in their eye.  Astigmatism is corrected in your glasses or contacts.  If astigmatism is not corrected after cataract surgery, then patients will need to wear corrective lenses to see clearly.  For those with higher levels of astigmatism, the toric implants will reduce or eliminate the astigmatism allowing for a higher quality of vision without the need for glasses.  

Ora System™ Technology is a cutting edge technology which continuously monitors the measurements of a patient's eye during their cataract surgery.  This incredible accurate, real-time display of the patient's eye provides an unprecedented level of valuable information about the eye which allows the surgeon to customize each patient's procedure to give them the best visual outcome, and less dependence on glasses. Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center was the first practice in Pittsburgh to acquire and use this innovative technology during cataract surgery. 

Ora SystemTechnology™ is used to assist your eye surgeon by helping the surgeon make the best choices for lens implant power and astigmatism correction.  The ORA System™  used at the time of your cataract surgery will verify that the nearsightedness, farsightedness, or the astigmatism (eyeglass prescription) was correct, and the correct power of the lens implant was selected. The ORA System™  will also help verify the correct amount of astigmatism during laser astigmatism correction and placement of a toric lens implant.

The ORA System™  is also used in patients who have undergone refractive surgery such as LASIK or PRK.  Oftentimes, lens implant power is incorrectly chosen because corneal distortion causes errors in preoperative measurements.  The ORA System™ can overcome many of these corneal distortions caused by the refractive surgery allowing for greatly enhanced accuracy of lens implant powers over the conventional preoperative measurements. 

Benefits of the ORA System™

• The ORA System™ may help your surgeon achieve better results and provide you an improved quality of vision
• The ORS System™ give your surgeon an added level of confirmation for an optimal outcome
• If you have astigmatism, the ORA System™ may improve the accuracy of your correction to help reduce the chance you’ll need to wear eyeglasses after your procedure

Even with all the technological advances in cataract surgery, patients still have the burden of using multiple eye drops after surgery which is often the most difficult aspect of the procedure for the patient.  Dropless cataract surgery is reducing the need for eye drops after surgery while reducing postoperative infections.  Traditionally, patients undergoing cataract surgery are required to adhere to a complex eye drop schedule often with three different medications.  These eye drops are used up to 4 times a day for a total of 4-6 weeks after surgery adding up to over 400 drops for both eyes.  Because cataract patients are primarily in the 65 and older range, they may have other medical conditions such as arthritis which can make it hard to instill the eye drops.  Also, the rising cost of prescription medications has placed a significant financial burden for patients.  The combination of eye drops can often cost hundreds of dollars.

In dropless cataract surgery, a compounded mixture of dexamethasone and moxifloxacin (Dex-Moxi) is placed in the eye after the cataract has removed and the new lens implant is placed.  The time-release nature of the medication works during the postoperative period, protecting the eye from potentially blinding infections as well as reducing inflammation and retinal swelling.  Dropless cataract surgery represents a significant step forward because it allows surgeons to place the medication directly in the eye where it can be most effective in fighting infection and reducing inflammation.

With dropless surgery, will still have patients use eye drops to supplement the Dex-Moxi.  This drop is also compounded with three drops made up into one bottle.  This drop is used only after surgery twice daily for one week, and then once daily for two weeks.  The bottle of drops is used for both eyes. 

Dropless cataract surgery is definitely a significant development in ophthalmology by providing patients with a simplified and improved postoperative experience. If you are going to have cataract surgery, ask your eye surgeon about Dropless cataract surgery.