New Vision Cataract surgery opens up a bright, clear world. Dr. Les Grosinger does cataract surgery. Ruthan Brodsky Special to the Jewish News M y view of the world changed in May when I had cataract surgery — both eyes. Although I noticed some decline in my vision over the past few years, especially when reading, it wasn't the removal of the cataracts that made the very huge difference for me. It was the lens that was implanted during the surgery that continues to bring me daily surprises. I wore my first pair of glasses at age 6. I was very nearsighted and had astigmatism in both eyes. It was difficult for me to focus on anything — everything was blurred. A couple weeks following cataract sur- gery with the lens implants that corrected most of my astigmatism, it occurred to me that I must have learned to play golf primarily by feel over the past 20 years because, now, the ball was in focus for the first time. Eye surgeon Les Grosinger, M.D., men- tioned my developing cataracts 12 year ago during a routine eye exam. Not realizing how much my vision had been restricted during this time, I thought about cataract surgery as a way to improve my vision so I wouldn't have to wear contact lenses dur- ing physical activity, like biking, tennis or jogging. I rationalized that I should have cataract surgery with the lens implant this spring because I was relatively young and in good health. And it worked! A cataract is the clouding of the nor- mally clear and transparent lens of the eye. "Clouding of the lens may start at any age, but it's uncommon before the age of 40," says Neal Krasnick, M.D., ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon in St. Clair Shores and Shelby Township. "Symptoms of cataracts may include blurred vision, difficulty with glare, espe- cially at night, dull color vision, increased nearsightedness and difficulty reading, even with prescription glasses. Everyone eventually gets cataracts, but there are so many lens options available today that patients, with their physician's help, can decide on the lens that works best." The standard cataract surgery, gener- ally an outpatient procedure, takes place in a hospital or in an ambulatory surgical center. The most common cataract surgery today is a process called phacoemulsifica- tion. It takes less than 15 minutes and usually requires only minimal sedation and numbing eye drops. Stitches are not required and an eye patch isn't worn after surgery. Using an operating microscope, the surgeon makes a very small incision in the surface of the eye so that a thin ultrasound probe can be inserted. Using ultrasonic vibrations to dissolve (phacoemulsify) the clouded lens, the tiny fragmented pieces are then suctioned out through the same probe. Once the cataract is removed, an artificial lens is put in its place. You can't see or feel the implanted lens. It requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. Although no cataract surgery promises perfect vision as an end result, there is a variety of lenses available today to accom- modate most vision conditions. The monofocal lens is the most common implanted lens. Most health insurance poli- cies provide coverage for this lens, which provides distance vision as well as good near vision for some. Reading glasses are often required for others. This lens does not correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is distorted and blurry vision because the cornea is oblong shaped (like a football) rather than shaped like a dome. When the cornea isn't shaped cor- rectly, it can't focus an image onto the retina properly and the result is a blurred image. I had absolutely no idea that mine was a blurred world until a Toric lens was implanted in each eye during cataract sur- gery. The Toric lens corrected most of my astigmatism and provided quality distance vision. I just use reading glasses these days. New Vision on page B26 J September 25 • 2008 B25