What is a cataract?

A cataract forms when the natural lens in the eye becomes discolored and opacified. The lens is a structure inside the eye; it’s clear when we are born but changes as we age. Along with the cornea, the lens focuses light onto the retina so we can see clearly. The lens sits directly behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. By dilating your eyes, an eye doctor can fully examine your natural lens to determine if a cataract has formed. Early cataracts typically have a yellow hue, while advanced cataracts can become brown or sometimes even white.

Photo of clear lens
Clear lens in a teenager.
Photograph of cataract in human eye.
Age-related cataract.

Do I have cataracts?

The development of a cataract can cause a variety of symptoms. Your vision can become blurry or cloudy, commonly described as "looking through a film." Difficulty driving at night and trouble with glare are also very common symptoms of cataracts. Colors can become washed out and whites can take on a yellow or brown hue. Cataracts can also lead to difficulty seeing in low-light conditions, or when entering a dimly lit room. Cataract surgery is considered when a patient is having trouble functioning from the symptoms caused by their cataracts, which is an individual decision.

What is cataract surgery?

Dr. Potthoff specializes in the most advanced no-stitch, no-needle, no drops technique of cataract surgery; he has successfully performed thousands of cataract surgeries. Modern cataract surgery involves making small incisions in the front part of the eye to gain access to the cataract. These incisions can be made with a blade or a laser. Once the cataract is exposed, it is broken up and removed using ultrasound or laser power and aspiration. In order to replace the natural lens of the eye and help the eye focus, an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is placed in the capsule that had been surrounding the cataract. IOLs are typically made of acrylic or silicone; Dr. Potthoff can discuss the various pros and cons of different IOL models at your surgical consultation.

What are my lens implant options?

Cataract surgery involves making a number of decisions. The first decision is whether or not to have the surgery! Next, you and your eye doctor must decide on the best type of lens implant for your particular eye and visual goals and desires. Cataract lens implant options include lenses that correct astigmatism (toric lens) and advanced-technology lenses that are designed to minimize your dependence on glasses at both distance and near, including the Symfony and PanOptix lenses. It is important to not rush through the process and to spend time having your questions answered by your eye surgeon.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, when medically necessary, cataract surgery is covered by Medicare and commercial insurance. It is also important to note that some additional services and treatments can be performed in conjunction with cataract surgery that are not covered by insurance. One example of this would be the correction of astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery.
No. Dr. Potthoff performs "dropless" cataract surgery in Traverse City, MI. This means that his patients do not need to take eye drops following cataract surgery with Dr. Potthoff. This is achieved by placing antibiotics directly in the eye and steroids on the surface of the eye at the end of surgery.
A personalized approach is required to answer this question. Depending on a patient's current eye health and need for glasses or contact lenses, various options are available. In 'standard' cataract surgery, a monofocal (single distance) intraocular lens (IOL) is used and a patient may or may not need glasses to see objects far away; however, they will almost certainly need glasses to read and view objects up close. New advanced-technology intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been developed with the goal of reducing a patient's need for glasses, both for viewing objects far away and up close.  In addition, toric IOLs are designed to correct astigmatism and reduce glasses dependency. Dr. Potthoff has extensive experience using a wide variety of IOLs and takes pride in working with his patients to understand and accomplish their visual goals and needs.
No. At least not yet (it may be someday in the future). The most rigorous scientific studies have repeatedly shown no long-term visual benefits with laser cataract surgery. Given the much increased cost to patients, Dr. Potthoff does not currently offer laser cataract surgery because of the exceptional results attained with standard techniques. See the page on "Laser Eye Surgery" under the Cataract Surgery menu to read more.
Typically cataract surgery is only performed on one eye at a time. If cataract surgery is deemed necessary in both eyes, the second eye can have cataract surgery 1 to 2 weeks after the first surgery. It is important to wait for the first eye to be recovering safely before proceeding with the second eye; however, with Dr. Potthoff's advanced cataract surgery techniques the turnaround can be quite quick if desired.
Yes, the majority of cataract surgeries are performed using topical anesthesia (numbing drops and gel on the eye) and some relaxing medications taken by mouth. Patients typically remain awake throughout the procedure, which can usually be performed in under 15 minutes. During surgery, Dr. Potthoff likes to explain to his patients what they can expect to experience and feel as the surgery progresses. Performing cataract surgery with the patient awake and only using topical numbing gels allows for fast visual recovery and minimizes the potential complications of  injecting medications around the eye or putting the patient to sleep.
Prior to cataract surgery, the eye is numbed using drops and gel. This prevents the sensation of any sharp pain. Throughout the procedure, patients often describe feeling "pressure". You may also feel cool fluids on the eyelids and skin around the eye as sterile saline is infused to stabilize the eye during cataract surgery. Some patients even describe seeing a pleasant "light show" while the surgery is performed. After surgery, many patients are amazed at how quick and painless it was to have cataract surgery.
Since most cataract surgeries are performed with the patient awake, it is important to remain calm and relaxed throughout the surgery. Cataract surgery is performed using a surgical microscope, and the patient is instructed to look at the bright light of the microscope. This can take a minute or two to become comfortable with. Patients do not need to worry about keeping their eye open during the surgery as a small eyelid speculum is used to keep the eyelids open. Modern day cataract surgeons are trained to deal with patient eye movements during surgery, and the instruments are placed in such a way as to keep the eye steady, even if the patient has trouble staying relaxed. The bottom line is that Dr. Potthoff will only perform eye surgery under safe conditions, and if additional anesthesia is required to achieve this then those modifications can easily be implemented.
While cataracts are responsible for the majority of reversible blindness in developing countries, in the U.S. it is uncommon for cataracts to progress to the point of causing blindness. It is also important to remember that even if a cataract causes severe vision loss, this can be improved following successful cataract surgery, assuming that the rest of the eye is healthy and hasn't lost vision from diseases such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.