Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process, but you don’t have to live with them. With today’s advanced technologies, cataract removal is quick, safe and precise, and new lens options may actually help improve your vision. Learn more about how cataract surgery can restore your vision by requesting a cataract evaluation today.
What is a Cataract?
Cataracts are the result of the eye lens becoming cloudy, yellow and/or opaque due to the build-up of naturally occurring proteins in the eye. As these clumps grow in size over time, vision becomes impaired; if left untreated, blindness will occur. In fact, cataracts account for over 48% of correctable blindness in the world.
There is no way to prevent cataracts; they are typically an inevitable part of life for most people usually forming later in life as part of the aging process. However, they can also be caused by:
- Injury
- Eye disease
- Medications
- Systemic diseases or conditions (diabetes)
- Congenital defect (congenital cataract)
Cataract Symptoms
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Colors appear dull, faded or yellowed
- Poor night vision with glare or halos
- Double or multiple vision in one eye
- Frequent prescription changes in your glasses or contact lenses
Treating Cataracts
Cataract surgery is both safe and effective and is one of the most commonly performed procedures with more than 3 million cataract operations performed each year in the United States.
Cataracts are treated by replacing the affected natural lens with a new lens through cataract surgery. Advances in cataract surgery means that today’s patients have access to micro-surgical techniques and instrumentation that allow the cloudy lens to be removed quickly and safely via phaco-emulsification, ultra-sound energy which gently fragments the cataract, allowing it to be easily removed and replaced with a new intra-ocular lens (IOL).
The new implanted lens may be a standard “Mono-Focal” Intra-ocular lens, which is designed to provide vision based on a single targeted focal point or a Premium Specialty Lifestyle Lens which is designed to deliver a more natural range of vision.
Offering Advanced Technologies
The ORA System® Advantage
Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) System. Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston was one of the first ophthalmology practices in New England to offer ORA (Optiwave Refractive Analysis) guided cataract surgery. ORA-guided cataract surgery is an intra-operative device that takes measurements of your eye. These “in-procedure” measurements allow Dr. Rapoza to make any necessary lens calculation adjustments thus refining your visual outcome.
ORA-guided advanced cataract surgery provides an in-depth, on demand analysis of your eye, something not possible with traditional cataract surgery. With ORA, measurements of the eye are collected during surgery after the cloudy cataract has been removed. This allows Dr. Rapoza to customize an implant for your individual eye. This dual advantage ensures the best possible vision results possible.
ORA is particularly useful in determining the IOL power for eyes that have had prior LASIK, PRK and RK surgeries and is highly recommended for these types of procedures.
Dr. Rapoza uses ORA with all of his premium specialty IOL cataract surgical procedures. With Premium lenses, there is no additional cost. ORA may also be used to for standard mono-focal lens surgery for a minimal additional fee, not covered by insurance.
When it comes to your eyes, technology and surgeon experience are most important. Patients choose Dr. Rapoza, not only because he offers advanced technology options, but because he has performed over 30,000 cataract surgeries world-wide and in our state-of-the-art Boston and Waltham facilities.
To Schedule a Cataract Evaluation with Dr. Rapoza, Call 800-635-0489 or Click Here With offices in Boston, Waltham and Danvers, MA