Corrective surgery for the eyes is an impressive miracle of modern medical technology, and it offers so many profound benefits. It can empower patients to continue their line of work and their favorite hobbies. It can help maintain a patient’s independence and ability to drive and experience the world around them to the fullest. With Wichita Vision Institute of Wichita, KS, you can explore the various treatments we offer with Dr. Patel, which includes LenSx surgery.
LenSx can offer several advantages over traditional cataract surgery. With traditional surgery, a small blade is used to remove the cataracts. While this can still be an effective solution, it is also considered more difficult for the body when compared to laser treatment. Laser technology is able to offer a quick, seamless, and minimally-invasive treatment which has the benefit of being blade-free. With computer and ultrasound guidance, the laser can break up and remove cataracts.
Once the cataracts are removed, you’ll be ready to receive your intraocular lens. This will serve as a replacement for your cataract-inflicted natural lens. This replacement lens will help restore your vision and protect your eyes from harmful light rays at the same time.
For all the benefits it offers, this is a remarkably quick process. The surgery itself is often completed within 30 minutes, with the total treatment time usually taking about an hour. Follow-up appointments should take around the same amount of time. This helps make the treatment itself and your follow-ups easy to fit into a busy schedule.
We are able to offer lenses that correct near, middle, and far vision at the same time. That means after your surgery, you can enjoy overall vision improvement that may be even better than it was before you developed cataracts. A multifocal lens can help you enjoy clear vision without having to rely on bifocals.
Depth perception and light sensitivity should all be improved after your treatment, and the benefits this surgery offers are expected to last a lifetime.
Some patients aren’t sure what the difference is between LASIK and LenSx. Both are treatments that can correct vision, but picking the right treatment depends on your needs.
LASIK is more commonly used for younger patients without cataracts who don’t want to deal with contacts or glasses. Meanwhile, LenSx is for patients who need cataract removal and a replacement lens that can restore their vision. If you have any questions about which surgical option is the right call for you, Dr. Patel would be happy to go over the differences in more detail during your consultation.
A consultation is an important first step for any treatment, but this is especially true for surgery. It gives us the chance to go over your needs and talk about the treatment in detail, while giving you the chance to share your concerns and any lingering questions you find yourself with. Once Dr. Patel determines your eligibility, you will receive an eye exam to further ensure that this treatment is going to give you the results you’re looking for.
With the consultation and exam complete, you can look forward to setting up the treatment itself and enjoying the many vision improvements it can offer. The steps of the treatment process are listed below.
Before your treatment is begun, you may receive a sedative to help you relax throughout the process. Some patients find this so effective that they’re able to actually fall asleep for their surgery.
Of course, before we administer the sedative, we will want to go over any drug sensitivities you may have. Our first and most important goal is to keep you safe, so letting us know about any sensitivities will help us know the right way to approach your treatment.
A special anesthetic solution will be gently applied to the eye. This will numb the eye for several hours. Since the surgery usually takes less than 30 minutes, this will give us plenty of time to carry out treatment.
Ultrasound energy pulses will be used to prepare the cataract for extraction. Computer-guided technology helps us pinpoint just the right areas to administer the laser energy. Once the cataracts have been broken down, gentle suction is used to remove all traces of your cataracts.
Some patients prefer to have one eye treated at a time, while others want to have both addressed at once. Dr. Patel can help you understand which approach may be best for you. Either way, once the cataracts are gone, we can place your new lens to restore your vision and protect your eye.
Since these lenses will be a part of your eye, rather than just sitting on top of them, they are considered a type of intraocular lens. The lens will be unfolded and placed in just the right location to serve as a replacement for your natural lens. After that, Dr. Patel will be able to conclude the surgery, give you personalized instructions, and let you know when you should come back for your follow-up appointment.
Dr. Patel can talk you through the different intraocular lenses we offer, as each option has different benefits. Whether you need to improve astigmatism, eliminate the need for bifocal glasses, or want to make sure the lens you pick is a good fit for your lifestyle, we would be happy to help.
One of the options we offer are PanOptix lenses. These revolutionary new lenses are growing in popularity. They are a great way to improve the clarity of your vision at all times of the day. Since this is a trifocal lens, you’ll be able to see clearly at far ranges such as when you’re at a movie theater, middle ranges when you’re working on the computer or cooking, and close ranges for when you’re reading.
These are also intraocular lenses that are placed in your eye, just like PanOptix. The Toric lenses may be an especially good option for patients with astigmatism or who want good distance vision. Since they’re multifocal, they offer a good vision range.
Similar to PanOptix, a Toric lens is able to function well in low lighting. A Toric lens will be placed close to the pupil so it can function as closely to your natural eye lens as possible. Ultimately, PanOptix and Toric lenses both are excellent products. Picking between them will come down to very minor details that Dr. Patel can help you work through.
For patients who are discouraged by their failing vision, cataract removal can be wonderfully liberating. That said, the lens you replace your natural lens with is important when it comes to your independence. Many lenses are monofocal, meaning you’d have to choose between having either clear near or distance vision and relying on glasses to make up for the rest.
While cataract surgery can grant independence with both monofocal and multifocal lenses, reaping the benefits of a multifocal lens can help patients not have to worry about losing their glasses or having to deal with contacts. These lenses can help patients enjoy vision that looks and feels more natural.
This very common condition can worsen with age but can affect anyone. When your natural lens is slightly misshapen or out of place, it can make it difficult for your eyes to adjust to looking at either close or far distances.
Injury can cause this, but it’s usually hereditary, and it can cause inconvenient symptoms such as blurry vision at night and headaches. Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, our powerful lenses can help restore clear vision that’s free from cataracts, while also improving natural astigmatism.
Many patients can remember the day they realized they needed readers to make out the words of their favorite book or to see their phone screen. Presbyopia is often age-related, and makes seeing detail up close difficult.
Bifocals and reading glasses are helpful tools to manage this condition, but they can be difficult to adapt to. If you’re used to the spontaneity of being able to pick up a book without having to search for your readers, this may be a source of frustration. Multifocal lenses can let you manage your presbyopia without bifocals or readers.
Most people understand the damage that unprotected sun exposure can do to our skin. Did you realize that the sun can also dish out damage to your eyes? Blue light can also be challenging, as some patients find that their eyes feel strained when they’re exposed to too much blue light.
The right kind of lens can offer protection against harmful sun rays and blue light while providing clear, accurate vision.
When choosing your options for cataract surgery, there can be a lot of information to sort through. If you find yourself overwhelmed or simply wanting professional advice, it may be time to seek out a consultation. Dr. Patel would be happy to talk through your options and help you make the best choice for your needs. Reach out to us at Wichita Vision Institute of Wichita, KS, today and get one step closer to improved vision.