Not your grandparents’ cataract surgery: smoother recovery, better results
June 17, 2024
R. Wayne Bowman, M.D., Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, contributed to this article.
Cataract surgery used to be a nightmare for aging adults – patients would often put off care until they could barely see or function. And cataract surgery used to be a lengthy endeavor with an uncomfortable recovery – head stabilized and weeks or months taken away from their usual routines, including work and hobbies.
However, ophthalmologists have seen a profound evolution in cataract surgery in recent years. Advancements in technology and understanding of the eyes allow specialists in the UT Southwestern Department of Ophthalmology to remove cataracts by replacing the cloudy natural lens with new artificial lenses that improve the personalized fit and significantly reduce cloudy vision.
At the same time, we can use cataract surgery as a personalized refractive procedure, meaning we can correct or improve nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism with customized replacement lenses based on a patient’s needs or preferences. Many patients can choose whether they want to have fully corrected vision or to retain their reading glasses. We can also better predict how well they’ll be able to see after surgery while driving or doing daily tasks such as working on a computer or reading.
In other words, this isn’t your grandparents’ cataract surgery.
If you’re diagnosed with cataracts, you now have the advantage of more precise procedures, a shorter recovery time, better outcomes, and more treatment options. Let’s discuss what’s changed and what’s on the horizon.
"Advancements in technology and understanding of the eyes allow us not only to remove cataracts but also to use cataract surgery as a refractive procedure, meaning we can better target how well patients see after surgery."
Optimizing eye health before cataract surgery
In recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on optimizing the health of the eye before surgery. Dry eye, for example, is a common condition that, if left untreated, increases the risk of complications with any type of eye surgery. Dry eye occurs for many reasons, from seasonal allergies and environmental irritants to long-term contact lens use. It can cause abrasions on the surface of the eye along with inflammation.
The eye relies on moisture to help it heal, and surgery can contribute to dry eye. Ensuring that the surface of your eye is healthy before the procedure can lead to better cataract surgery outcomes.
Some of the measurement systems we have in the clinic can help assess whether your eye surface is ready for surgery. The maps we use are called topographies, and they assess the shape of your eye. One type is called Placido disc technology, which displays a series of colored, concentric rings. Changes in the shape and fidelity of the rings show subtle improvements in eye health over time and tell cataract surgeons a great deal about what needs to be done ahead of surgery and which types of lenses are potentially best for you.
We often ask patients who have contact lenses to stop wearing them before surgery to heal the surface of the eyes. The topography is a key way of tracking your progress toward surgery-ready eyes.
Doctor-driven consultations
At UT Southwestern, our cataract surgeries are physician-driven. That means the first provider you’ll talk with at your consultation will be a doctor. That way you can get all the options available to you based on your overall health.
Designing a lens made just for you
Before surgery, our ophthalmologists measure the affected eye with light waves that map its surface using what’s called Swept Source noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT).
We run the OCT data through complex formulas that use the measurements of the eye’s anatomy and curvature to predict the ideal lens. As these formulas become more precise, so does the likelihood that the lens implanted in surgery will correct your vision.
There are also lens formulas, some of which use artificial intelligence, to help predict the ideal power of the implant. These versions of AI are constantly improving, but it is important to remember that the expertise of the ophthalmologist and the rest of the team is crucial for deciding the final type and strength of the lens that replaces a cataract.
Related reading: Cataracts in children: Prevent vision loss with early detection and treatment
Patient eligibility for cataract treatment expanding
Some surgical centers and standalone vision clinics do not offer cataract surgery to patients with risk factors such as obesity, macular degeneration, and previous retinal detachment. These conditions may increase the risk of surgical complications or require accommodations that those centers are not equipped to handle.
However, patients at UT Southwestern have streamlined access to any specialist care they might need, including cardiology, advanced anesthesia, and emergency medical care. We perform cataract surgery here on our Dallas campus with the latest technology, meaning more patients with complex health needs can safely get cataract surgery.
Fortunately for the vast majority of patients, cataract surgery is an outpatient surgery and with little more than some light sedation and local anesthetic in the form of drops. It is a wonder to many who get the procedure how mild or minimal the side effects of this form of anesthesia can be.
Years ago, recovery could last three months or longer and often involved a hospital stay and immobilization. Our process today is minimally invasive, with smaller incisions that are self-healing without sutures. After surgery, patients can usually resume most of their normal activities like walking, lifting light weights, and doing household chores within a week and even strenuous activities like running, swimming in pools, and heavier lifting after two weeks, depending on the patient’s recovery process.
Related reading: How to prevent infections after eye surgery
Advanced recovery with light-adjustable lenses
In the past, despite all the technology to personalize a new lens, it was impossible to make adjustments once the lens was implanted without additional surgery. But new light-adjustable lenses have transformed post-operative care. With this technology, the lens is reshaped through UV light after surgery to better fit the shape of the eye. Light-adjustable lenses were created to help better correct patients vision, especially patients who have had prior surgeries that impact the accuracy of lens-predicting formulas.
The new lens is made of tiny molecules called macromers. When UV light is shined on the lens, the macromers are activated and start sticking together. This makes the lens change shape and alters how well it focuses light.
We can control where we shine the light to adjust different parts of the lens, making it more curved or less curved depending on what you need to see better. And if we need to make more adjustments later, we can do that by targeting different areas of the lens with the light. Once the patient is happy with how the lens is working, we shine a light all over to lock everything in place, so it stays just right for you to see clearly. The entire process takes about six to eight weeks after both eyes have had the lenses implanted with cataract surgery.
This adjustment is noninvasive and painless. It can take three treatments, each 30 seconds to two minutes, to refine the lens and lock it in so that it’s no longer malleable.
Total Eye Health
Each year, our ophthalmologists treat thousands of patients with a wide variety of eye conditions. This high volume provides us with extensive experience that translates to the best possible care for our patients. Ophthalmologists share the expertise of the team and the importance of one-stop, comprehensive eye care at UT Southwestern.
What’s coming in the future
We’re just starting to see what’s possible in cataract surgery, and the digital age will further revolutionize what doctors can do in terms of safety and precision. UT Southwestern is at the forefront of advanced ophthalmologic technology, and new techniques and tools are developed every year. Doctors today have more control over procedures and can provide better results than we could just a few years ago. That said, it’s likely that our current standards might seem outdated in another 10 to 20 years!
Strides have also been made toward increased comfort and accuracy for surgeons performing the procedure. Right now, surgeons look through a microscope, which can be hard on the body. Increasingly, we're working with three-dimensional monitors that project the eye surface so everyone in the room wearing 3D glasses can see it. Not only will this make the procedure more comfortable for the surgeon, but it will also help ensure that ophthalmologists in training can observe these advanced techniques in action. Some companies are designing virtual reality headsets for improved visualization.
Today’s patients can expect precise results and smoother recovery with our advanced procedures. If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts and are considering surgery or are looking into refractive surgery of any type, we’ll answer your questions and help you choose the best care for your eyes. Call 214-645-2020 today or request an appointment online.
