Cataracts

Reasons To Travel For Cataract Surgery

An estimated 60 percent of Americans will eventually develop cataracts.

Once a cataract has progressed to advanced stages, surgery will be needed to ease the symptoms and restore visual acuity. The cost of cataract surgery will be an important factor in deciding where and when to have the procedure done, among other factors.

In searching for the best facility for your eye surgery, it might be wise to look beyond your hometown and consider traveling to get a better experience with your corrective surgery.

Research & Technology

At Specialty Eye Institute, you can feel confident about the quality of eye care you will receive because our doctors are committed to research and clinical studies using the most advanced equipment available to allow for early detection of eye conditions.

By diagnosing eye conditions early, the doctors have the best chance of giving each patient a successful outcome in treatment.

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Traditional surgery to treat cataracts has been proven to be among the safest and most successful procedures in modern medicine. The popularity of laser cataract surgery has increased the degree of precision involved in performing certain critical steps of the procedure.

Types of Surgery & Lenses

Do you prefer a specific type of cataract surgery?

With the cutting-edge equipment and superior technology available at Specialty Eye Institute, our doctors will customize your surgery to give you the best possible results.

Traditional cataract surgery uses a no-stitch incision and is very safe and efficient and now with laser cataract surgery, Specialty Eye Institute can create incisions and potentially reduce astigmatism up to 10 times more precise than manual techniques for some portions of the cataract surgical procedure.

During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens will be removed and an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) will be inserted in its place. With the new, crystal clear lens, light rays will be able to penetrate to the retina and allow visual images to be sent to the brain.

A variety of lenses are available to choose from, and the type of lens used will affect the price and outcome of your surgery. And, certain lens options aren’t right for everyone so your doctor will help guide you to find the best option that fits your individual needs.

Different Lens Options:

• Depth-of-Focus Lens
• Toric Lens
• Multifocal Lens
• Monofocal Lens

Cost, Insurance & Payment Plans

Most private insurance carriers and Medicare cover the costs of basic surgery for cataracts. There will be some out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pays and deductibles. Costs will also vary depending on the type of lenses chosen for your surgery.

Specialty Eye Institute’s staff will work with you every step to give you the best possible care at the most affordable price.

Financing is also available to expedite your needed surgery. We offer the Alphaeon credit card to spread out your payments over time, with low monthly payments that fit your budget. Alphaeon offers you financing plans that might not be available with your current credit card companies.

Specialty Eye Care offers competitive pricing to help in your search for affordable eye surgery. We also help arrange for discounts on hotel rooms to accommodate you during your surgical experience.

Combined with the technological advantages, cutting-edge equipment and some of the best doctors and medical staff to be found, traveling to Michigan for your cataract treatment could be one of the best decisions you have ever made!

Why Specialty Eye Institute?

The highly qualified doctors at Specialty Eye Institute offer state-of-the-art technology and Board Certified Eye Surgeons to give you the optimal experience in traditional or laser cataract surgery.

Dr. Paul H. Ernest founded Specialty Eye Institute in Jackson, Michigan in 1978. The Institute currently has 10 locations in Michigan and Ohio, with more than 20 physicians on staff.

Additional Resources:

• When is the right time to have cataract surgery?
• Why you should get a second opinion on cataract surgery
• Cataract FAQ
• Cataract Lens Options
• Cataract Surgery Options

Wondering when you should get a second medical opinion? The best way to get optimal healthcare is by exploring your options.This is especially true when it comes to a cataract surgery or any other kind of surgery for that matter.

Why Second Opinions Are Important

Only consulting one eye doctor for eye care will limit your knowledge and impact your decision-making process. When it comes to a health condition like cataracts, you’ll want to know the best treatment options.

But first, what is a cataract?

A cataract is a type of eye condition that causes cloudiness within the lens of the eye. This cloudiness will interfere with a person’s ability to see. A cataract can result in blurry vision, faded colors, halos, and in some cases, blindness. Cataracts can be the result of aging, blunt force trauma, radiation exposure, or genetic diseases. Consult an eye doctor if you suspect that you’ve developed a cataract.

What is cataract surgery like?

In a laser cataract surgery, the natural lens is removed from the eye. An artificial implant is inserted in its place. Before the surgery takes place, the eye care specialist will measure the size and shape of your eye to find an appropriate artificial lens for you. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before the surgery.

Most cataract surgeries take place under one hour. You will be awake during the operation, but you won’t feel pain. Your eyes will be under numbing medication. Side effects after cataract surgery are rare. However, you could experience eye infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, pressure, or fluid buildup.

You will be asked to apply eye drops in the days following the surgery; this medication will help your eyes heal.

Why Seek a Second Opinion?

Not everyone needs surgery to treat cataracts. Some people prefer to only wear prescription eyewear to deal with the cataract. A doctor will recommend whether you should receive surgery.

Getting a second opinion from another doctor will confirm whether surgery is truly needed, and keep your mind at ease with these important questions answered.

Is your eye surgeon qualified, trained and certified?

For 40 years, we have been recognized as one of the industry’s innovators. Through our experience, commitment to technology, and role in researching new treatments and techniques we can provide patients the best possible eye care, both today and in the future.

Does your doctor use certified medical facilities and safe equipment? 

Doctors at Specialty Eye Institute use certified equipment when diagnosing and treating your vision problems. Our comprehensive eye exams are designed to detect these eye problems and other diseases in their early stages. Our doctors also participate in leading clinical technologies.

Will your doctor inform and educate you on all your options?

The team at Specialty Eye Institute is committed to educating all of our patients before surgery on all available options for the desired results. We provide many educational opportunities with free patient seminars, informative newsletters, and our team of trained patient consultants and surgical counselors are available to answer any questions. Questions? Let’s talk!

Would others recommend?

Read the reviews when researching your options for eye care and bigger procedures, like cataract surgery. You can view these on Google My Business, Facebook, or sometimes their website.

Questions To Ask Your Eye Doctor

When you visit the doctors for their expert opinions, be sure to ask these questions to compare:

1. How serious is my eye condition?
2. What are the different treatment options?
3. What is the best treatment option for my particular case?
4. What are the risks that come with this treatment option?
5. What happens if I don’t receive treatment?

Also, consider seeking the second opinion from a completely different institute. Different eye health clinics will have different approaches to eye care. When getting a second opinion, feel free to bring along any rest results and information gathered from the first consultation. Be open about what the second consultation is about: getting another appraisal.

How to Choose Between Your Options

If the second doctor disagrees with the first about laser cataract surgery, then it’s time to evaluate the pros and cons of each treatment option. A third opinion may be needed if you don’t know what to do.

In the end, you should go with the treatment plan that offers the best potential outcome.

When is the right time to get a cataract surgery?

At the beginning of cataract formation, it may be easy to improve your vision through glasses, magnification, bifocals, visual aids, and appropriate lighting. When the cataract progresses to the point that it impairs vision and the way of life, laser cataract surgery should be the first thing that comes to mind.

Aging is considered as the primary factor of poor vision, but getting cataract surgery is painless and simple enough to give your clear vision back. According to PBA, cataract surgery guarantees you that you will have your vision back, and it is the most successful surgery performed in the US, having more than three million Americans undergoing the surgery every year.

What is a cataract?

An individual who has a cataract is identified with the clouding of the natural lens. People who are over 40 are the most affected by cataracts when it comes to vision impairment and is the world’s primary cause of blindness.

To understand the seriousness of the widespread effect of cataracts, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) stated that there is more widespread of cataract than combined cases of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Cataracts now affect approximately more than 22 million Americans over the age of 46, and PBA states that the figure will rise to 30 million by 2020.

Symptoms and signs of cataracts

As cataracts develop; you will notice blurry vision, similar to looking through cloudy glass. You may also become more sensitive to light.

Driving at night may become a challenge because the headlights from oncoming cars may cause more glare than they used to. You may even notice colors seem dull or not as vibrant as before.

What causes cataracts?

The eye’s lens functions like the lens of a camera, it is used to focus light to the retina, and it adjusts the focus of the eye for you to see things clearly for both close or distant objects. The main components of the lens are protein and water.

The protein is organized in a way to keep the lens clear for the light to easily pass through. Over time, the protein may build up and form a small cloudy part of the lens. The cloud may become larger over time forming a cataract, which will make it harder for you to see.

The reason as to why the lens changes as we age is unknown to us, but doctors have identified factors that cause a cataract; they include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• UV radiation
• Smoking
• High Myopia
• Previous inflammation or eye surgery
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Use of corticosteroid medications
• Statin medicines
• High intake of alcohol

One of the known theories about the formation of cataract is the oxidative changes in the lens. Nutrition studies support this theory because vegetables and fruits that have antioxidants can help prevent the cause of distinct types of cataracts.

What happens during cataract surgery?

When cataract surgery is being performed, the clouded lens is removed by the surgeon and replaced with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) that is plastic in nature.

Recent developments in IOLs allow patients to have options based on their lifestyle. There are 4 main types of IOLs:

• Monofocal lens – These lenses can provide clear distance vision for patients without astigmatism.
• Multifocal lens – These lenses can provide a range of vision from near to intermediate to distance.
• Astigmatism Correcting (Toric) lens – correct higher levels of astigmatism and provide clear distance vision. You will still need glasses for near and intermediate vision.
• Depth-of-focus lens – This lens provides a continuous range of vision at all distances to fit your active lifestyle.

Men should also be careful to know that some prostate drugs can cause IFIS (Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome) when the cataract removal is being performed.

If there is a cataract in both eyes, typically cataract surgery is performed on your non-dominant eye first followed by your dominant eye 1-2 weeks later. The time between the two surgeries is in case infection or complications occur.

Now, to prevent yourself from having a cataract, use antioxidant vitamins like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C and also wear sunglasses to block UV rays when you are enjoying the sun.

Specialty Eye Institute is offering free cataract screenings through August 31, 2018. Schedule your screening today!