cataract surgery Archives

Which Premium Lens is Right For Me?

Paul Stubenbordt on April 5, 2022

Are you going to have cataract surgery soon? Are you wondering which premium IOL, or intraocular lens, you should choose?

The answer to this question depends on your lifestyle and vision goals. Keep reading to learn which premium lens may be right for you!

ReSTOR IOL

The ReSTOR IOL is a premium IOL option that corrects distance, intermediate, and near vision. This IOL can be an excellent option for people with presbyopia or those who have trouble focusing up close.

The ReSTOR IOL can reduce your dependence on contacts or glasses, whether trifocal, bifocal, or readers. Most patients can focus seamlessly between different vision ranges after having the ReSTOR IOL implanted.

Vivity Lens

The Vivity IOL is an extended depth of focus lens that uses X-Wave’s new, non-diffractive technology. With this technology, you will experience optimal vision in various lighting conditions, including bright and dim light.

The Vivity IOL’s unique diffractive technology will significantly reduce the amount of glare and visual disturbances you may experience. This lens also closely mimics your eye’s natural lens before a cataract formed.

The Vivity IOL will allow you to have crisp distance vision while also improving your intermediate and near vision. Some people will still require glasses while performing certain activities like reading or using the computer.

Crystalens

The Crystalens is a single-focus IOL that works with the muscles in your eyes for seamless focusing. This lens can dynamically adjust to your visual needs and allow you to see clearly at many ranges of focus.

After cataract surgery with the Crystalens, many patients will have more freedom from glasses or contacts. You may still need over-the-counter reading glasses for certain activities.

Tecnis Symfony

The Tecnis Symfony IOL is an extended range of vision lens. This lens can provide crisp vision at a distance while improving transition in focus to reading and intermediate vision.

Although you are still likely to need reading glasses for small print, the Symfony lens will improve your distance, near, and intermediate vision for most activities.

PanOptix Lens

The PanOptix IOL is a trifocal lens and the first and only one of its kind. This lens will correct your vision for clarity at all ranges, including distance, intermediate, and near.

With clear vision at all ranges of vision, your need for glasses will be significantly reduced. With the PanOptix lens, many people also experience brighter colors and less blurry zones.

Due to this, you will be able to see without straining to focus. You may still need glasses to see for certain activities, as with almost any lens.

Toric Lens

A toric lens is an IOL specifically designed to correct astigmatism. Toric lenses are custom-made to correct your specific amount of astigmatism.

Many premium lens models come in a toric IOL option to improve any visual symptoms caused by astigmatism. At your cataract evaluation, your eye doctor will measure your amount of astigmatism.

If you have a minimal amount of astigmatism, your eye doctor may say you do not need a toric lens. Your eye doctor can help you determine which premium IOL will best fit your vision goals and lifestyle.

Need some help deciding on the right premium lens for you? Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at Berg Feinfield in Beverly Hills, CA, now!

When Is The Right Time To Get Cataract Surgery?

Paul Stubenbordt on September 30, 2021

If you have cataracts, the best and only way to treat them is through cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is the most performed medical procedure in the country.

That isn’t surprising when you consider just how common cataracts are. By age seventy-five, half of all adults will have had at least one cataract.

But if you have cataracts, when should you get cataract surgery? It may not be as soon as you get diagnosed with them.

Keep reading to learn more about cataracts and when the right time to get cataract surgery is.

What are Cataracts?

Most people know that cataracts form in your eye and can make it hard to see. But not everyone knows exactly what they are.

A cataract is something that happens to your eye’s natural lens. They develop as proteins in your lens break down and clump together.

This clumping causes cloudiness which makes it hard to see. This process is mainly driven by age and is a side effect of getting older.

However, it is still unknown exactly how cataracts form. Despite that, how to treat cataracts is a well-known process.

Cataract Symptoms

When you have cataracts, you may not notice any symptoms at first. They tend to form very slowly for years or decades.

When they start to cause visual issues, it can be so gradual that you don’t even notice them. And even if you know you have cataracts, you may not attribute those issues to them.

But advanced cataracts can make it very difficult to see and can even cause complete vision loss. The most common cataract symptoms include

Blurred vision
Poor night vision
Light sensitivity
Glare and halos
Trouble seeing contrast
Double vision in one eye

If you experience several of these symptoms, you may have cataracts and should see an eye doctor. In general, you should see an eye doctor regularly.

That way, when your cataracts first develop, they can diagnose and track them. Tracking their development and your symptoms is critical in determining when you need cataract surgery.

When to Get Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that involves removing your cataract-afflicted lens. The lens then gets replaced with an artificial one, called an intraocular lens, or IOL.

Cataract surgery is an elective procedure. You don’t have to get it. However, it’s often deemed medically necessary to save your vision, and depending on the IOL you select may be covered by insurance.

But determining when to have surgery is primarily up to you and your eye doctor. The general rule is that it’s time for cataract surgery when they begin to affect your quality of life.

It’s helpful, then, to know what kind of symptoms you’re experiencing and how severe they are. Also, pay attention to how difficult they make it to perform daily activities.

The right time to get cataract surgery varies by person and is partially subjective. Talk to your eye doctor about your symptoms and follow their recommendations.

If you have cataracts and are struggling in your daily life, it may be time for cataract surgery. Are your cataracts interfering with life?

Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA. Find out if it’s time for cataract surgery!

Are Cataracts Permanent?

Paul Stubenbordt on May 19, 2021

Cataracts are an extremely common condition. More often than not, they’re the result of aging.

But they still can be very harmful to your vision. They develop slowly over time, and the more they develop, the harder it gets to see.

Eventually, they can result in complete blindness. But there’s good news: while cataracts won’t go away on their own, you can have them removed during cataract surgery. Keep reading to learn more about cataracts!

What are Cataracts?

What are cataracts? Cataracts form in the natural lens of the eye, making them cloudy. This is something that occurs as you get older.

With age, the chemicals in your body change, altering cells that compose various structures in your body. The cells that form the lens become hard, making them more opaque and less translucent.

The exact process that causes this change is unknown. Scientists know it’s related to aging, and it can also be due to diabetes and the extended use of corticosteroids, among other factors.

When you have cataracts, you may not have any noticeable symptoms at first. But as they progress, your vision will only become more cloudy and distorted.

Other symptoms you may experience include blurry vision, light sensitivity, halos, intense glare, and poor night vision. The longer you have cataracts, the more they progress and the worse symptoms are. Most people with cataracts will need to have them removed.

Treatment

You can treat cataracts. But there is no way to remove cataracts from the natural lens. They also won’t go away on their own.

The only way to effectively treat cataracts is to have cataract surgery. Having cataract surgery involves removing the natural lens of the eye and then replacing it with an artificial lens.

The artificial lens provides you with clear vision. While cataracts are permanent if left untreated, they can be completely removed when you have cataract surgery.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures you can undergo. It’s a low-risk procedure that requires no hospital stay.

You’ll be able to go home the day you have the procedure. If you have cataracts in both eyes, then you’ll have cataract surgery on each eye separately. This only happens once you’ve recovered and can see.

Having cataract surgery only takes a few steps. First, you’ll receive numbing eye drops and some light sedation.

Then, the surgeon makes a small incision in the eye to access your natural lens. They break apart the lens and remove it using special, tiny instruments that fit through the incision.

After removing the lens, it’s replaced with an artificial one called an intraocular lens, or IOL. This lens will allow you to see just as well as you could with your own, if not better.

IOLs come in different varieties, and some reduce the need for glasses altogether. Before having cataract surgery, you and your surgeon will decide what IOL is best for you.

The IOL is inserted through the same incision that the natural lens was removed from. The surgeon carefully aligns it to make sure it’s in the proper area of the eye.

After this, your cataract surgery is over! There are no stitches needed to close the incision as it’s small enough to heal on its own.

Cataracts can steal your vision, but you don’t have to suffer. When cataracts begin to affect your daily life, cataract surgery restores your vision and quality of life.

Wondering if it may be time to have cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA, today!

Are There Benefits To Having Cataract Surgery Now?

Paul Stubenbordt on December 18, 2020

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, there’s a good chance your doctor has brought up the possibility of cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is an elective procedure, but it’s often necessary to reverse or prevent a patient from going blind from cataracts.

The fact that cataract surgery is elective does mean that it’s partially up to you when to have it, although your doctor can make recommendations. There are some benefits to waiting to have surgery, but most doctors agree on when it is best to have cataract surgery.

Keep reading to learn more about cataract surgery and if there are benefits to having it now!

When to Have Cataract Surgery

The general recommendation from eye doctors is to have cataract surgery when your cataracts begin to affect your quality of life. The reason cataract surgery isn’t performed as soon as your cataracts have been diagnosed is that they take years to develop.

They may even develop slowly enough that you never even need cataract surgery. But once your cataracts make it harder to live your daily life, you should definitely have cataract surgery as soon as you can.

It may be difficult to tell if your cataracts are significantly affecting your life. If you’re not sure, ask yourself a few questions.

Do you have trouble reading?

If you’re older, you may have trouble reading due to presbyopia. This is a common age-related condition that makes it harder to see up close.

But if you have cataracts, reading glasses that would normally help your eyes focus won’t help you read. This is because cataracts affect your night vision.

They make it harder to read not because your eyes can’t focus, but due to lack of light. If you find it’s hard to read unless you have direct light, that could be a sign it’s time for cataract surgery.

Do you have trouble driving at night?

For the same reason, that reading becomes harder, driving at night can be very difficult and dangerous if you have cataracts.

This is due to poor night vision. Not only that but increased glare and light sensitivity can make headlights from other cars seem blindingly bright. If you don’t feel safe driving at night, it’s definitely time to have your cataracts removed.

Is it difficult to complete daily tasks at work or at home?

If cataract symptoms like poor night vision, light sensitivity, increased glare, blurry vision, double vision, and faded color vision make it harder to perform your job or chores at home, you should consider cataract surgery.

It may be hard to tell if your trouble is due to cataracts as they develop so slowly, but if you stop to think why certain tasks are hard, you may come to realize it’s due to visual problems. Think about how your symptoms affect you as you go about your day.

If you find you have to work around them, cataracts are certainly affecting your quality of life. Ready to find out if you need to have cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at Berg Feinfield in Burbank, CA today!

Do I Really Need Cataract Surgery?

Paul Stubenbordt on September 11, 2019

Cataracts affect a large percentage of adults over the age of 40. Many of these people may have cataracts and don’t even notice it at first.

But if you find it difficult to see, your doctor may recommend cataract surgery. It is an elective procedure, so you may be wondering if it’s completely necessary.

The truth is, it’s the most effective treatment for cataracts. It’s also the only way to restore your vision. Keep reading to learn more about treating cataracts and when to have surgery!

Is There an Alternative Treatment?

There is no way to fully treat cataracts besides having cataract surgery. Cataract surgery only becomes necessary if cataracts impact your vision.

Even if you have cataracts, you may not need treatment. Some people with cataracts never experience symptoms severe enough to warrant surgery.

Since cataracts develop over time, there are people who never develop cataract symptoms. If you have cataracts that aren’t harming your vision, there’s no need to get them treated.

But when your doctor recommends surgery, that means your cataracts affect your vision.

Severity of Symptoms

For many people, they may not notice having cataracts at first. Common symptoms include blurry vision, light sensitivity, and poor night vision.

These symptoms may even be present without the patient noticing. Often, blurry vision may be mistaken for presbyopia. This is also associated with getting older.

The difference is, stronger glasses won’t improve your vision if it’s because of cataracts.

When cataract symptoms become obvious and severe, it’s a good time to consider surgery.

Quality of Life

Doctors recommend cataract surgery when cataracts affect the patient’s quality of life. This means that if you can’t see well enough to perform everyday tasks as normal, you should get surgery.

Cataracts may develop slowly enough to never be a problem. This is why cataract surgery isn’t always recommended at diagnosis.

But left untreated, they can get much worse. You can even go blind if your cataracts get more and more opaque.

The good news is, blindness by cataracts is reversible when you get cataract surgery. But you don’t want to wait until you’ve gone blind to get treated!

It’s much easier to get surgery at the point that your cataracts start to cause you trouble when completing tasks. It’s also helpful to get frequent eye exams so you can be diagnosed with cataracts as early as possible.

That way, your doctor can watch their progression and recommend treatment. If you do need cataract surgery, know that there’s nothing to be afraid of!

It’s one of the most common procedures performed around the world. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor. They can answer any of your questions and set your mind at ease.

Think it’s time for you or a loved one to get cataract surgery? Contact Berg Feinfield in Sherman Oaks, CA to schedule a cataract screening! Don’t let your diminished vision from cataracts stand in your way of clear vision any longer! Isn’t it time to see the world with the clarity you’ve been waiting for?

4 Reasons Why Cataract Surgery Isn’t Scary

Paul Stubenbordt on July 24, 2019

Cataracts can be a real pain. They’re a very common condition, especially in patients over the age of 40.

Some people are lucky enough to have cataracts that don’t impede their vision. But for some cataracts cause major visual problems or even blindness.

If you have cataracts and you find yourself unable to perform daily tasks because of them, it’s time to get them out. There’s only one treatment option for cataracts, and it’s cataract surgery.

Being told you need any kind of surgery can be a little scary, but cataract surgery is nothing to fear. Here are a few reasons why:

It’s A Safe, Low-Risk Surgery

Any surgery carries some risk, and cataract surgery is no different. As far as surgeries go, cataract surgery is very low-risk. A small percentage of patients will experience complications.

An even smaller percentage experience serious complications. Almost all risks from cataract surgery are avoidable!

This is by caring for your eyes during recovery. You also need to take all prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops.

It’s A Common Procedure

Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures in the country. This actually isn’t that surprising considering how common cataracts are.

Lots of people get cataracts so lots of people need them treated at some point. But because cataract surgery is so common, the procedure is routine for most surgeons.

Your surgeon will know exactly what they’re doing. This means this is a surgery they’ve performed hundreds or thousands of times.

It’s Quick and Painless

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home the same day. Not only that, but the surgery itself will only take about 30 minutes.

You will be awake for the surgery, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any anesthetic. All that’s needed for the surgery are eye drops that numb the surface of the eye.

The surgeon applies the drops, and once the patient blinks, the drops are spread over the eye. This is what numbs the eye during the procedure.

To help the patient relax, most surgeons also will give a mild sedative. This means you won’t feel any pain and you’ll be very relaxed!

It Will Let You See Again

Not only is cataract surgery safe, fast, and painless, but it’s well worth it. Cataract surgery works.

It’s the most effective treatment for cataracts. Cataract surgery works because the entire lens gets removed from the eye. The lens is then replaced by an artificial lens or IOL.

It’s this IOL that allows the patient to see again. If you’ve gotten to the point where cataracts have impeded your vision, it’s time for surgery.

You can even see better than before if you get a premium IOL! There are many IOL options to choose from, so discuss these with your doctor before cataract surgery!

Concerned that you need cataract surgery? Contact Berg Feinfield in South Pasadena, CA to schedule a cataract screening with us! Haven’t you waited long enough to see well again? It’s time to see clearly!