What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects clear vision. The lens is the part of the eye that focuses light and images on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a healthy eye, the light passes through the lens to the retina and the image is clear. When there is a cataract, the retina does not receive a sharp image, therefore the image you see will be blurred. The lens becomes clouded due to natural aging. By age 80 most American have had a cataract or cataract surgery.

How are cataracts treated?

To treat cataracts, the cloudy lens must be removed and replaced with a new, clear artificial lens. At Omaha Eye & Laser Institute we use the latest advancements in cataract removal to treat patients. This is called laser cataract surgery where the use of the LenSx femtosecond laser assists in the procedure. The LenSx laser uses a revolutionary laser to evaluate your eyes. The cataract surgeon review the image generated by the laser to map out the surgery to the LenSx. The computer-guided technology makes several small incisions in the surface of the eye to create a flap and uses small bursts to soften and break the cataract. The surgeon replaces the cloudy lens with an intraocular artificial lens and closes the flap.