Cataract surgery has historically been very successful in restoring vision. In fact, it is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States. More than 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, according to Prevent Blindness America. The femtosecond laser technology that ushered in new levels of safety, accuracy and predictability to LASIK surgery has also greatly advanced cataract surgery. Modern cataract surgery - which is far less invasive than it used to be - has reached a level of sophistication, allowing for better recovery and more precise outcomes. Additionally, advances in lens implants (intraocular lenses) for cataract surgery have enabled surgeons to customize a person’s vision to uniquely match their lifestyle. That means your surgeon may be able to correct everything from your astigmatism to your near and distance vision at the same time he or she is taking care of your cataracts. New IOLs - we call them Lifestyle Lenses - are being developed all the time to make lenses more helpful to patients. WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CATARACT SURGERY During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens. The new lens can’t be seen or felt and stays permanently inside the eye. To prepare for the procedure, your Frantz EyeCare surgeon will make a tiny incision in your eye with a blade or the LenSx laser. This will allow the surgeon to remove the cloudy lens and insert the new one in its place. The incision is so small that stitches are not required. It will heal completely by itself. Recovery time is minimal, thanks in large part to advances in technology. Most patients can return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours, although strenuous physical activity is discouraged for several weeks. The eye may take several weeks to heal completely. 10W H A T I S M O D E R N C A T A R A C T S U R G E R Y ? 28