Cataract Surgery

1 00:00:13.442 --> 00:00:16.342 Cataracts happen in every patient. 2 00:00:16.343 --> 00:00:19.208 If we all live long enough, we'll develop a cataract 3 00:00:19.209 --> 00:00:23.525 that's a film that grows over the focusing lens inside of the eye. 4 00:00:23.526 --> 00:00:27.800 Generally, if you think about a window that's getting dirtier and dirtier, 5 00:00:27.801 --> 00:00:30.950 it's harder to focus through that particular window. 6 00:00:30.951 --> 00:00:36.269 Cataract surgery involves actually removing the focusing lens through lasers. 7 00:00:36.270 --> 00:00:39.860 There's no stitches, no needles, no eyepatches that are used. 8 00:00:39.861 --> 00:00:43.110 The procedure is actually a little less work than a tooth filling. 9 00:00:43.111 --> 00:00:46.033 It takes about 10-15 minutes to remove the cataract. 10 00:00:46.034 --> 00:00:48.633 Typically, if a cataract exists in both eyes, 11 00:00:48.634 --> 00:00:53.342 we'll do one eye at a time, and following about a week to two weeks, 12 00:00:53.343 --> 00:00:55.100 we'll do the other eye. 13 00:00:55.101 --> 00:00:59.725 It involves removing the dirty window and putting a clean window in its place 14 00:00:59.726 --> 00:01:02.333 to allow the patient to be able to focus. 15 00:01:02.334 --> 00:01:04.625 Many times after the cataract surgery, 16 00:01:04.626 --> 00:01:07.025 patients will no longer need to wear eyeglasses 17 00:01:07.026 --> 00:01:09.308 to see near or to see far away.