According to AllAboutVision.com, cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure in the United States. However, there is not just one type of cataract surgery to fit all possible patients. Instead, there are many different cataract surgery options available. While some are inpatient events, most are outpatient surgeries. Understanding the most common cataract surgery options aids in making informed surgical choices.
Cataract Removal
Depending on the location of the cataract, it may be possible to simply have the cataract removed from the surface of the lens. However, this will depend on both the size and the type of cataract in the eye. Dense and localized cataracts are better candidates for removal than cortical cataracts, whose spokes may be spread too far throughout the eye. Simple cataract removal can help restore vision and remove clouds from the visual field.
Simple Lens Removal and Replacement
The most commonly chosen cataract surgery option is simple lens removal and replacement, according to AllAboutVision.com. In this surgical option, surgeons will remove the natural lens of the eye and replace it with an artificial lens that is free of cataracts. This artificial lens is known as an intraocular lens, or IOL, and these lenses are available from a number of vision care firms.
With lens removal and replacement, it is necessary to determine what kind of lens will be implanted. Lenses can provide blue light filtration or other eye shielding benefits in addition to simply being a replacement. According to the Mayo Clinic, implanted lenses should last for a lifetime without deteriorating or needing replacement.
Vision-Correcting Lens Implants
As a relatively new development in the world of cataract surgery options, vision correcting lens implants are chosen by about 20 percent of patients undergoing cataract surgery, according to a May 2010 article in "The Wall Street Journal." This surgical option carries a higher price tag than other types of cataract surgery, and the kinds of lenses must be chosen before the surgery occurs.
If choosing this option, patients must work with their ophthalmologists to determine how to mimic the correction of their current glasses or contacts. Alternatively, a separate visual exam should be performed to set levels of correction. According to "The Wall Street Journal" article, both hard monofocal lenses and flexible lenses for natural vision adjustment are currently being offered.
