Northwest Eye Cataract LP

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are an opacity or clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. This clear lens focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, which in turn sends information to the brain where it’s interpreted into the images we see.

As the natural lens becomes cloudy, it inhibits or diminishes the passage of light to the retina, often leaving patients feeling as though they are looking through a frosted or “fogged” windshield.

Symptoms of cataracts can include:

Blurred or dimmed vision (particularly at night)
Cloudy vision
Sensitivity to light and glare
Visual distortions or “ghost images”
Increased nearsightedness
Difficulty reading or driving

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What Are Your Options?

Cataract surgery is an exciting, life-changing choice and offers patients the opportunity to pause and think about what their ideal vision would be following the procedure. At Northwest Eye, we offer elective lenses and treatment options that can be used in conjunction with your cataract surgery to help you achieve your post-surgical visual goals.

We were one of the first Minneapolis practices to offer Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery featuring the LENSAR femtosecond laser, the latest and most advanced laser technology available. This highly innovative, laser-assisted procedure may be used in one of the packages below, to not only remove your cataract, but to correct your vision at the same time, offering less dependence on glasses.

Northwest Eye offers Advanced Cataract Vision Packages, all designed to address specific vision outcomes.

Single Distance Astigmatism Package (Near or Far)

Patients with an astigmatism may need to opt for an enhanced lens and/or astigmatism correcting technology, to appropriately treat their vision. Our single distance astigmatism package corrects nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).

Blended Vision Astigmatism Package (Reading + Distance)

With a blended vision package, patients with astigmatism are able to obtain near and far vision by having one eye corrected for near vision and one corrected for distance vision. This allows for less dependence on glasses for both ranges.

Presbyopia Package (Reading + Mid-Range + Distance)

In our presbyopia package, we use a specialty lens (accommodating, multifocal, or extended depth of focus) to offer patients less dependence on glasses at a variety of focal ranges (near, far, and intermediate).

Light Adjustable Lens

The most accurate option, the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL), is the first lens that offers fine tuning, or adjustments, to the prescription after cataract surgery. With this lens, patients have the option of choosing to correct their vision at a variety of distances. These lenses can correct for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or both, by optimizing one eye for each. This highly customizable lens allows for patients to trial their preferred focal point correction before finalizing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to have cataract surgery?

Many people think that it’s best to have cataract surgery when it’s first diagnosed. The reality is that a cataract should be removed when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities. In most cases, delaying surgery won’t cause long-term damage to your eye or complicate the surgery. You do not have to rush into surgery. Since cataract surgery is elective, you choose when to undergo the procedure. Northwest Eye will help you to decide when (and if) surgery is right for you.

How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?

Many patients return to normal activities within a few days after surgery, but each case is unique. Your vision should improve in the weeks following your procedure. Additional eye conditions may increase your recovery time.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

Surgery is the only proven and successful treatment for cataracts. Medicines, eye drops or other drugs will not treat cataracts.

Is cataract surgery safe?

Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. It’s also one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. About 95 percent of people who have cataract surgery experience better vision afterward.

Is there anything I can do to prevent cataracts?

Unfortunately, cataracts cannot be prevented. There are things you can do to delay the development and effects of cataracts including:

Shading your eyes from sunlight.
Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim when you are outside.
Eating healthy. Ongoing research suggests good nutrition might help reduce the risk of age-related cataracts. A balanced diet that includes healthy foods, such as green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods high in antioxidants might delay cataracts.
Kicking that smoking habit, if you’re currently a smoker.
Scheduling regular eye exams. Comprehensive dilated exams (especially if you’re over 60) can detect cataracts and signs of age-related vision disorders. The sooner a Northwest Eye cataract surgeon can treat an eye disease, the better.

Why should I choose Northwest Eye?

The cataract surgeons at Northwest Eye (Drs. John Berestka, Timothy Ehlen, Matthew Ramsey, and Jesse Dovich) have decades of experience with cataract surgery. You’ll visit with your surgeon before your procedure to answer any questions you have and select the right treatment for your desired outcome. We’re one of the largest cataract practices in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Our team of trained surgeons provides outstanding treatment and top-notch patient care at our comfortable, sophisticated treatment facilities.

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