Cataracts

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the internal lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. As the lens becomes cloudier, vision becomes blurry and distorted. People with cataracts commonly experience difficulty in appreciating colors and changes in contrast, driving, reading, recognizing faces, and coping with glare from bright lights. Common risk factors for developing a cataract are including, aging, medications, eye trauma and surgeries, smoking, and unprotected excessive sunlight exposure.

Most people will have a slight cataract in one or both eyes by age 60. Most cataracts progress slowly over 5-15 years. An annual eye exam is recommended for people over age 60 to measure eyesight and evaluate overall eye health.

If you have questions regarding cataracts, call our office or ask our doctors at your next appointment.

Older couple outside smiling and riding bikes

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. Left untreated, it is the most common cause of blindness and is conventionally treated with surgery. Vision loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructs light from passing through and being focused on to the retina at the back of the eye. The most common cause for cataracts is biological aging and over-exposure to ultraviolet light. Seeing through a cataract is similar to looking through a foggy window. People with cataracts commonly experience difficulty in appreciating colors and changes in contrast, driving, reading, recognizing faces, and coping with glare from bright lights. While there is no guaranteed way to avoid cataracts, wearing eyewear and sunwear that block 100% UVA and UVB rays can slow the onset as well as decrease the exposure to direct sunlight. Cataracts do not need to interfere with your lifestyle. If you’re concerned that you may be suffering from a cataract, call our office today to schedule an eye health evaluation.

LensX

When cataracts begin affecting your daily life, modern technology has made treatment safer and more precise than ever before. At Cumberland Eye Care, we use the LensX Laser System to provide our patients with advanced cataract surgery options.

What is LensX?

LensX is a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser system designed specifically for cataract surgery. Unlike traditional cataract surgery, which relies on handheld surgical instruments to perform key steps of the procedure, LensX uses precise laser technology to complete several critical portions of the surgery.

The system creates a detailed 3D image of your eye, allowing your surgeon to plan and execute each step with exceptional accuracy. This computer-guided laser technology performs certain incisions and lens fragmentation with a level of precision that’s difficult to achieve with manual techniques alone.

What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery with LensX?

Choosing laser-assisted cataract surgery with LensX offers several advantages that can improve your surgical experience and visual outcomes.

Enhanced Precision and Accuracy

The LensX system uses advanced imaging to map your eye in three dimensions, allowing your surgeon to customize the procedure to your unique anatomy. The laser performs incisions with microscopic precision, creating consistent, properly sized openings that promote better healing and visual results.

Gentler on Your Eyes

Because the laser can fragment the cloudy lens into smaller, softer pieces before removal, less ultrasound energy is needed during surgery. This gentler approach may result in reduced inflammation and faster recovery times for many patients.

Improved Astigmatism Correction

If you have astigmatism, the LensX laser can create precise corneal incisions to help correct this condition during your cataract surgery. This may reduce your dependence on glasses for distance vision after the procedure.

Increased Safety

The bladeless, computer-guided nature of key surgical steps reduces variability and enhances the overall safety profile of the procedure, giving both patients and surgeons added confidence.

Clareon PanOptix Pro IOL

At Cumberland Eye Care, we’re excited to offer the latest advancement in cataract surgery: the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro trifocal intraocular lens (IOL). This innovative lens represents a significant step forward in helping patients achieve clear vision at all distances while reducing their dependence on glasses.

What Makes PanOptix Pro Different?

The PanOptix Pro is an updated version of the original PanOptix lens, incorporating new ENLIGHTEN® NXT Optical Technology that improves how light is used within your eye.

Better Light Efficiency

The key improvement is how efficiently the lens uses light. When light enters your eye through the lens, you want as much of that light as possible to create clear images at different distances.

The PanOptix Pro uses 94% of available light effectively, compared to 88% with the original PanOptix and even less with other multifocal lenses. This means less light is wasted, resulting in sharper images and better contrast, especially helpful in challenging lighting conditions like restaurants or when driving at dusk.

Reduced Light Scatter

Another key improvement in PanOptix Pro is the 50% reduction in light scatter compared to the original PanOptix. Light scatter can cause visual disturbances like halos and glare, particularly in low-light conditions.

By minimizing this scatter and redirecting that lost light to useful focal points, the Pro version delivers enhanced image contrast and clearer vision across all distances.

Smooth Vision at All Distances

The lens provides uninterrupted light distribution across your full visual range, from distance vision all the way to near vision. This means smoother transitions when looking from far objects to your smartphone or reading material, with improved contrast that helps images appear sharper and more defined.

Is PanOptix Pro Right for You?

The PanOptix Pro is designed for patients seeking reduced dependence on glasses after cataract surgery. During your consultation, your eye doctor will evaluate your visual needs, lifestyle, and eye health to determine if this advanced IOL is the best choice for your unique situation.

Do you want to learn if the PanOptix Pro IOL can help you achieve clearer, more comfortable vision at all distances? Schedule an appointment at Cumberland Eye Care in Crossville, TN, today!