Cataract Surgery Near Me Fort Myers
Are you thinking about having cataract surgery near you in the Fort Myers area? Elmquist Eye Group has been serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lee County and Southwest Florida for over 25 years. We are pleased to offer refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery and the latest advancements in intraocular lens technology.
How Do Cataracts Occur?
A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens of your eye gets cloudy. Most of the time, the condition develops in older adults, but according to the National Eye Institute, more than 24.5 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by them. By the age of 80, more than 50% of Americans have cataracts or have had cataract surgery to remove them.
While most cataracts are age-related, cataracts also occur in babies or young children (called congenital cataracts). And they can be caused by a traumatic eye injury, by excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, by the use of certain medications, including prednisone and corticosteroids, and by certain diseases, such as diabetes.
About Cataract Surgery
The only way to treat cataracts is with surgery that replaces the clouded lens of the eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed in the U.S. today, with a success rate that exceeds 95%. The traditional procedure is quick, most patients experience little or no discomfort, and clear vision is usually restored within a few days.
Elmquist Eye Group also offers refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery, a procedure that is designed to make surgery more precise, safer and more accurate by utilizing the same laser technology that is used for all-laser LASIK surgery. It enables Dr. Rodriguez to plan and customize each cataract procedure to the unique characteristics of each patient’s eye.
Dr. Rodriguez gently numbs the eye so that you won’t feel any discomfort. Then the laser is used to make tiny incisions on the cornea to reach the cloudy lens and carefully break it apart. The cataract is removed using gentle suction, and an artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL) is inserted. There are multifocal IOLs available to help individuals see at all distances without the need for glasses, and special Toric lenses for people with astigmatism.
To find out if a cataract may be causing your vision problems or learn more about surgery, schedule an eye exam near you at Elmquist Eye Group in Fort Myers and we will put your mind at ease. Call us today at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment.