This Cataract Awareness Month, I’m partnering with Johnson & Johnson Vision to tell my experience with cataracts and cataract surgery. 

Cataracts are a normal part of aging. They form from protein that clumps together inside the eye’s natural lens causing it to become cloudy and discolored. This causes light rays to scatter inside the eye instead of focusing directly on the retina. My symptoms were very gradual; the change in my vision took several years. I recall when my ophthalmologist informed me, I was in the beginning stage of forming cataracts that I would know when my vision affected my daily lifestyle. In other words, cataract surgery is a personal choice. He was 100% correct.

How I Felt Before and After Surgery

Imagine the lens in your glasses or the front window in your car fogging up. I began to constantly clean my glasses because nothing I looked at was crisp! My daily life was being affected and not until after my cataract surgery did I realize how much. What I did not know…was the total joy I would experience after my surgery. I entered a new world that I named my Light and Bright Show. I am so grateful to be able to enjoy the world around me and two months after my surgery I don’t require glasses! An important reminder: Please don’t procrastinate when you have my type of symptoms because as the cataract worsens, there is the risk of blindness.

Do Your Homework

I began my research by placing calls to my ophthalmologist, internist and two trusted friends who recently had surgery. I wanted to know their surgeon of choice and their results. On my own I read articles, and to my dismay, learned I had more than a few lens options and operating procedures to choose from. I tried my best to prepare for my first visit with my surgeon because I knew he would discuss different types of lenses, the surgery, and recovery and I wanted to have some understanding.

It turned out my internist and friend chose the same doctor. After I got the name, I went a step further and phoned my ophthalmologist and he confirmed I would be in excellent hands. On my own, I looked up the surgeon’s background and searched for positive comments from patients.

I was fortunate that the surgeon I chose had his office and did his surgeries in a hospital a few blocks from my home. I highly recommend staying as close to home as possible because you will be making several trips back and forth to visit the surgeon.

In regard to research, it’s important to decide what lenses are the best options for your eyes and vision. The most common and known lenses are Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses (PCIOL) and Monofocal lenses. 

Monofocal lenses correct distance vision but can be made to correct a particular visual distance you desire. If you don’t mind still relying on glasses for specific tasks – such as reading – then Monofocal lenses can be suitable for your needs.

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are small, soft lenses that are surgically implanted into the eye as part of cataract treatment. Presbyopia-correcting IOLs can also help widen range of vision when

compared to a Monofocal IOL, correct presbyopia, and reduce the need for glasses after surgery.

The latest PCIOL to hit the market in the US is the TECNIS Synergy IOL, which offers clear near vision in low light conditions and excellent image contrast day and night. An ophthalmologist may recommend a PCIOL if you currently wear one pair of glasses for reading and another pair for distance. With PCIOLs like TECNIS Synergy IOL, you can reduce the use of eyeglasses. 

The First Visit

”You have very healthy eyes,” said my surgeon. I loved hearing that. After the exam and discussing my lifestyle, he suggested a presbyopia correcting lens and type of surgery. He felt I should have laser-assisted cataract surgery and an IOL that will allow me to see at the crucial far and intermediate distances while still providing functional near vision.

Laser-assisted cataract surgery employs state-of-the-art technology to determine the incision site, create the cut in the cornea and breaks up the cataract for removal. It creates an intricate map of your eye. After the cataract is broken apart and removed the surgeon inserts the lens. This procedure has greater accuracy and faster healing. But traditional surgery has outstanding results.

I left his office with dates for each surgery and feeling very confident and, excited. I walked home feeling relieved that in no time at all, the world I was living in would no longer be blurry.

The Day of The Surgery and The Surgery

I arrived two hours before my scheduled surgery. A nurse reviewed my health history and placed an IV in my hand. An anesthesiologist spoke to me about anesthetics that included numbing my eye. My surgeon came in and spoke to me about the procedure. During the first part of the surgery, I was wheeled into a laser room, I placed myself on a table where my head was put in some type of holder and a laser light dropped down with multiple colors for a minute or two and it was over. It was painless and my surgeon was with me the entire time. 

I was wheeled into an operating room where the lenses were implanted. I was in a twilight sleep. I heard conversation, I was asked if I felt pain, and replied that I felt none. I felt a tiny amount of pressure and heard a crackling noise and then it was over. I spent less than an hour in the recovery room and then was accompanied home (a policy) by my husband with a patch over one eye, three types of eye drops, and written instructions on how to take care of myself and use each eye drop.

 

Post-Surgery and Beyond

I returned to the surgeon’s office twenty – four hours later with no discomfort. My surgeon removed the patch, examined my eye and afterwards told me to wear the patch for one more day. Several routine appointments were scheduled, and I was told it would take three to five weeks to notice results.

There were no restrictions to my diet. I was not to do any lifting or bending over for a day. I could shower, but not get my eye wet for three days and I had to be observant with my eye drops. I obeyed the rules to a tee.

On one routine visit, I had minor scratching in my eye. My doctor suggested it was due to the three different drops I was using and recommended I purchase another drop to lubricate my eyes at my local drugstore. Once I did, the scratching vanished. I continue to use my eye drops when I get up in the morning because it refreshes my eyes and clears my vision.

The drops were a nuisance at the beginning, but I adjusted. The several back-and-forth visits to the surgeon for routine visits were not difficult because I lived close by. 

I suffered no complications. I was never fearful. I was excited. I feel blessed with my outcome, and I definitely would recommend cataract surgery. 

If you want to learn more about Cataracts including symptoms to look for, causes, treatments and learn about the TECNIS® products check out Johnson & Johnson Vision’s website: https://www.clearvisionforyou.com/

I invite you to partake in my worthwhile adventure!

Have you considered cataract surgery? Join the conversation in the comments below or on Facebook and Instagram.

INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TECNIS SYNERGY™ IOL WITH TECNIS SIMPLICITY® DELIVERY SYSTEM, MODEL DFR00V AND TECNIS SYNERGY™ TORIC II IOL WITH TECNIS SIMPLICITY® DELIVERY SYSTEM, MODELS DFW150, DFW225, DFW300, DFW375

Rx Only

INDICATIONS:
The TECNIS Simplicity® Delivery System is used to fold and assist in inserting the TECNIS Synergy™ IOL, which is indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia in adult patients, with less than 1 diopter of pre-existing corneal astigmatism, in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The TECNIS Simplicity® Delivery System is used to fold and assist in inserting the TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOLs that are indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia and for reduction of refractive astigmatism in adult patients with greater than or equal to 1 diopter of preoperative corneal astigmatism, in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. Compared to an aspheric monofocal lens, the TECNIS Synergy™ IOLs mitigate the effects of presbyopia by providing improved visual acuity at intermediate and near distances to reduce eyeglass wear, while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity. The lens is intended for capsular bag placement only.

WARNINGS
Intraocular lenses may exacerbate an existing condition, may interfere with diagnosis or treatment of a condition or may pose an unreasonable risk to the eyesight of patients. Patients should have well-defined visual needs and be informed of possible visual effects (such as a perception of halo, starburst or glare around lights), which may be expected in nighttime or poor visibility conditions. Patients may perceive these visual effects as bothersome, which, on rare occasions, may be significant enough for the patient to request removal of the IOL. The physician should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits for each patient. Patients with a predicted postoperative residual astigmatism greater than 1.0 diopter, with or without a toric lens, may not fully benefit in terms of reducing spectacle wear. Rotation of the TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOL from its intended axis can reduce its astigmatic correction. Misalignment greater than 30° may increase postoperative refractive cylinder. If necessary, lens repositioning should occur as early as possible, prior to lens encapsulation. The lens and delivery system should be discarded if the lens has been folded within the cartridge for more than 10 minutes. Not doing so may result in the lens being stuck in the cartridge. Do not attempt to disassemble, modify, or alter the delivery system or any of its components, as this can significantly affect the function and/or structural integrity of the design.

PRECAUTIONS
Interpret results with caution when using autorefractors or wavefront aberrometers that utilize infrared light, or when performing a duochrome test. Confirmation of refraction with maximum plus manifest refraction technique is strongly recommended. The ability to perform some eye treatments (e.g., retinal photocoagulation) may be affected by the IOL optical design. The surgeon should target emmetropia, as this lens is designed for optimum visual performance when emmetropia is achieved. The TECNIS Synergy™ IOLs should not be placed in the ciliary sulcus. Carefully remove all viscoelastic and do not over-inflate the capsular bag at the end of the case. Residual viscoelastic and/or over-inflation of the capsular bag may allow the lens to rotate, causing misalignment of the TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOL. All preoperative surgical parameters are important when choosing a TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOL for implantation, including preoperative keratometric cylinder (magnitude and axis), incision location, the surgeon’s estimated surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and biometry. Variability in any of the preoperative measurements can influence patient outcomes and the effectiveness of treating eyes with lower amounts of preoperative corneal astigmatism. The effectiveness of TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOLs in reducing postoperative residual astigmatism in patients with preoperative corneal astigmatism < 1.0 diopter has not been demonstrated. Patients with a predicted postoperative astigmatism greater than 1.0 D may not be suitable candidates for implantation with the TECNIS Synergy™ and TECNIS Synergy™ Toric II IOLs, as they may not obtain the benefits of reduced spectacle wear or improved intermediate and near vision seen in patients with lower predicted postoperative astigmatism.

ATTENTION: Reference the Directions for Use for a complete listing of Indications and Important Safety Information.

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