Cataracts & Cataract Surgery at Spector Eye Care
in Connecticut

About Cataracts

To understand about Cataracts it is important to know that having clear vision and seeing “normally” first requires that light “focuses” properly, but also that light be able to efficiently pass through the optical structures of your eyes. The two primary structures that are responsible for refracting, or bending light so that it can focus properly on the back of the eye, or the Retina, are the Cornea, which is the outermost clear curved “lens” that is visible when looking at your eye from a side view and the Crystalline Lens, which is located behind the colored part of the eye, or the Iris, and is not directly visible. The Crystalline Lens will be examined during your eye examination by using specialized instruments to look through the Pupil, or the dark center of the Iris. Both the Cornea and the Crystalline Lens need to be perfectly clear in order for you to have good vision. If you are in good health and have not had chronic eye infections, inflammation or had any trauma to your eyes, the Cornea is likely to maintain its clarity throughout your life. The Crystalline Lens however undergoes a number of changes that progress as we age. These aging changes can affect your vision.

Usually by about the time we reach the age of 40 years old, most of us begin to experience some of the visual effects that result from changes in the Crystalline Lens. Even if you have had “good eyes” and “normal vision” all your life, your vision is likely to begin to change in a number of ways. As we progress from our 40’s, to our 50’s and then our 60’s and beyond, the most obvious changes to our vision occur as a result of these changes in the Crystalline Lens.

The two most common changes that occur in the Crystalline Lens are:

• A loss of flexibility, called Presbyopia, which makes it harder to read and
• A loss of optical clarity, which can cause a Cataract.

When we are younger, the Crystalline Lens is usually soft, flexible and “crystal” clear so that it has excellent transparency and optical clarity. As we progress through our 50’s and 60’s, the normally “crystal” clear lens may gradually become yellow and cloudy. When this occurs, you may initially experience a mild blurring of your vision and feel that you might need a change of eyeglasses. As the Crystalline Lens loses its transparency and its optical clarity, you may notice that it is not as easy to see well and comfortably in dim illumination, such as for night driving. You may notice that colors look faded. The cloudiness may also create glare, haloes, light sensitivity and a continuing decrease in your vision. If the Crystalline Lens becomes too cloudy it may cause a significant decrease in both your day and night vision. These are the visual symptoms that are common for those patients whose Crystalline Lens has clouded and formed a Cataract.

As we get older, Cataracts often become a common eye problem experienced by a great number of people just like you. Cataracts can affect us even if we have had normal vision all of our lives. It is important to note that Cataracts are even more common if we have had certain health problems such as diabetes or taken certain medications such as cortisone for asthma or other types of inflammatory conditions. If you are experiencing vision changes like these, it is important to schedule a comprehensive eye examination and Cataract Evaluation.

About Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgery is not only one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures performed in the United States, but it is also one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures that you can have. Modern Cataract Surgery today is safe, effective, predictable and quite common. In the United States alone, more than 2.5 million people have Cataract Surgery each year. At Spector Eye Care and New Vision Cataract Center in Connecticut, Dr. Spector uses a small incision, “no stitch no patch no needle” technique that is performed on an outpatient basis. At New Vision Cataract Center in Norwalk, Cataract Surgery is comfortable, convenient and close to home. The entire process usually requires only two hours of your time from beginning to end.  The actual surgical procedure is painless and takes less than 10 minutes. Our nurses and staff are present to help us with your actual surgery as well as to assist you and make your experience pleasant.

An Important Note About Cataract Surgery

A significant number of men in their 50’s and 60’s and beyond experience an enlarged prostate as part of the aging process. Today, many of these patients are taking the prescription medication Flomax or other similar medications that are members of the class of drugs called “alpha-agonists”.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTIFY OUR STAFF BEFORE YOU HAVE CATARACT SURGERY IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATION FOR AN ENLARGED PROSTATE

In August 2006, a joint advisory letter was issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the American Urological Association that identified that drugs such as Flomax, commonly used to treat an enlarged prostate, and other alpha-blockers can cause abnormal movement of muscles controlling the opening and closing of the iris. During cataract surgery, the pupil must stay enlarged or dilated to allow Dr. Spector to easily view the Crystalline Lens. Flomax and certain other alpha-blockers including Hytrin, Cardura, and Uroxatral can interfere with pupil dilation, creating a condition known as Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS).

If you are taking one of these medications and notify Dr. Spector or the staff, they will be able to take extra care to make sure the pupil stays dilated to prevent unexpected complications during your cataract surgery.  Dr. Spector has handled over one thousand cases of floppy iris syndrome and is currently preparing a research paper on a surgical technique that he developed to handle these “tricky” patients.

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The Cataract Surgery Procedure & Experience

When you arrive at the surgery center, the staff will check you in and review any paperwork that might require clarification or additional information. You will be escorted to a private changing area and asked to cover your street clothes with a yellow gown and your shoes with blue “booties”. Once you are ready you will be escorted to a comfortable waiting area. 

Your Cataract Surgery procedure will begin with a nurse placing some drops in your eye to dilate your pupil. Your eye will then be treated with an anesthetic so that you will feel little if anything during your surgery and minimal if any discomfort. For most Cataract Surgery patients this involves having a few sets of eye drops placed in your eyes. Typically, it is not necessary for Dr. Spector to use any injections or needles to anesthetize your eye.  A small amount of anti anxiety and/or sedative medication will be given as needed by a board certified anesthesiologist that works with Dr. Spector.

At the beginning of the surgery, Dr. Spector will place a very small incision at the outermost edge of your cornea. This incision will be just large enough to allow a microscopic instrument the size of a pen tip to pass through it. This microscopic instrument is a sophisticated and precise instrument that allows Dr. Spector to remove your Cataract using ultrasound. This cataract removal technique is called “phacoemulsification” and is the preferred technique of Cataract Surgery for most patients. Dr. Spector will gently pass the microscopic instrument through the tiny incision. Sound waves or “Ultrasound” produced at the tip of the instrument will be used to gently break the Cataract into pieces small enough to be washed away, drawn through the instrument and removed from your eye. 

After the Cataract has been removed, Dr. Spector will insert a new, crystal clear permanent Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) into your eye. The replacement lens will actually be inserted and placed in the correct position through the same tiny incision at the outer edge of the cornea through which Dr. Spector removed the Cataract.

Upon completion of your Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery, Dr. Spector will have one of the surgery center staff members take you to a comfortable place where you will be able to rest and relax prior to going home. After resting for a short while, a nurse will give discharge you and have a family member or friend drive you home.

Dr. Spector and the staff will arrange to see you at Spector Eye Care within 24 to 48 hours of your Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery so we can examine your eye and confirm that you are healing and seeing as planned. Dr. Spector will also prescribe some eye drops for you. Although each patient will heal a little bit differently, the majority of patients having Cataract Surgery with Dr. Spector are able to see well enough to return to their routine daily activities within a day or so after their Cataract Surgery.

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About YAG Laser Capsulotomy

The technique of advanced cataract surgery performed by Dr. Spector involves removing the cloudy interior contents of the Crystalline Lens while leaving the clear outer membrane-known as the "capsule"-in place, so that it can hold the intraocular lens implant (IOL) in the proper position.

The lens capsule is actually a structure comprised of living cells, which are responsible for producing lens fibers. Occasionally, even after cataract surgery it may continue to produce fibers that create tiny "beads" or "pearls" on the capsule, which can form a "secondary membrane". If the secondary membrane obstructs the pupil it may cause a blurring of your vision similar to what was experienced as a result of your cataract. This phenomenon can occur in approximately 20-40% of cataract surgeries and can appear at any time after cataract surgery, even as long as five or more years after the initial cataract removal.

Fortunately, even in instances where the blurred vision caused by the secondary membrane is quite significant, there is an in office highly effective type of laser treatment to clear away the secondary membrane. This type of laser treatment is called a YAG Laser Capsulotomy. Should you need a YAG Laser Capsulotomy, we are able to provide this right in the comfort and convenience of our office at Spector Eye Care and New Vision Cataract & Laser Center. It is important to understand that with a YAG Laser Capsulotomy there is absolutely no pain involved in this procedure and patients can resume their normal activities immediately.

AFTER YAG CAPSULOTOMY YOU WILL NOTICE AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE AND DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT YOUR VISION

In general, YAG Laser Capsulotomy:

• Is completely painless
• Does NOT require preoperative tests
• Is performed in our office and does not require an operating room
• Takes less than 5 minutes
• Does NOT have any postoperative restrictions

YAG Laser Capsulotomy can rarely have two significant complications:

If you have had a YAG Laser Capsulotomy, especially if you were moderately or severely nearsighted before your cataract surgery, you may have a slightly higher risk of developing a retinal detachment in the future.

VERY rarely, your intraocular lens implant (IOL) may dislocate through the opening created in the capsule, which will require surgery to reposition it properly.

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Spector Eye Care and New Vision Cataract & Laser Center provide Cataract Surgery in Norwalk and are conveniently located for Connecticut cataract patients from Norwalk, Westport, Stamford, Stratford, Greenwich, Darien, Wilton, Weston, Ridgefield, Bridgeport, Danbury, Fairfield, Milford, Trumbull, New Canaan or Shelton Connecticut. To schedule an appointment for a Cataract Consultation please call us at 203.853.9900.