Cataracts

What is a Cataract?

 A cataract   is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world.

what are cataract - cataract surgery in Middletown, RI

Today, cataracts affect more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older.


Types of Cataracts:

A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. People with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a subcapsular cataract.

A nuclear cataract forms deep in the central zone (nucleus) of the lens. Nuclear cataracts usually are associated with aging.

A cortical cataract is characterized by white, wedge-like opacities that start in the periphery of the lens and work their way to the center in a spoke-like fashion. This type of cataract occurs in the lens cortex, which is the part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.



 What Causes Cataracts?
The lens inside the eye works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina for clear vision. It also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away.
The lens is mostly made of water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.
But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract, and over time, it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
Some Cataract Risk Factors:
  • Family History
  • Diabetes


 

  • UV radiation
  • Hypertension


 

  • Obesity
  • Smoking


Co-Management

 Cataract Surgery Co-Management at Eye Care for RI:
At Eye Care for RI, cataract care is provided through a coordinated team approach. When cataract surgery is recommended, we partner with trusted cataract surgeons to ensure patients receive expert surgical care while continuing their evaluation and follow-up visits with the doctors in our office. This collaborative approach is known as cataract surgery co-management.
 

What Co-Management Means:
  
Co-management allows your cataract care to be shared between providers. The ophthalmologist performs the surgical procedure, while the doctors at Eye Care for RI manage much of the pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care. Both offices communicate closely to ensure your treatment plan and recovery are carefully monitored.


Co-Managed Cataract Care Offers Several Advantages:
Continuity of Care – You continue seeing the team at Eye Care for RI who understands your eye health history.

Convenience – Most pre- and post-surgery visits can be completed in our office.

Close Monitoring – Your eyes are evaluated before surgery and monitored closely during recovery.

Collaborative Expertise – Your care benefits from both surgical specialists and comprehensive eye care providers.

Our Role at Eye Care for RI:
During your visit, a comprehensive eye exam is performed to determine whether cataracts are affecting your vision and whether surgery may be beneficial. If surgery is recommended, we refer you to a trusted cataract surgeon and coordinate your care.

After surgery, most follow-up visits take place at Eye Care for RI. These appointments allow your doctor to monitor healing, evaluate your vision, and ensure your recovery is progressing as expected.

 
The Surgeon’s Role:
The ophthalmologist performs the cataract surgery by removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). The surgeon works in coordination with our team to ensure your care continues smoothly after the procedure.

The Cataract Surgery Process Typically Includes:
Comprehensive cataract evaluation at Eye Care for RI

Referral to a cataract surgeon for the procedure

Cataract surgery performed by the ophthalmologist

Post-operative visits at Eye Care for RI to monitor healing and vision

Through co-management, Eye Care for RI helps guide you through every step of the cataract surgery process while working closely with surgical specialists to achieve the best possible visual outcome.

Cataract Surgery Co-Management Partners:

Gregory Hofeldt, M.D.

Center for Sight

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Jorge J. Rivera, MD

Eye Consultants

of Rhode Island

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 Cataract Advanced Technology Lens Options:
 
 
Accommodative Lens
Traditional monofocal lenses focus light to only one point in space. This lens implant moves inside as the eye’s focusing muscle contracts, mimicking the eye’s natural ability to focus. An accommodative lens is able to provide vision at multiple distances: near, intermediate and distance vision. This is an option for patients who have both cataracts and presbyopia. This lens option reduces the dependency on glasses.

PanOptix Trifocal IOL
This is a multifocal IOL that is designed for active lifestyles from viewing mobile devices and computer screens to providing great distance vision in a variety of lighting solutions. Traditional monofocal lenses focus light to only one point in space. A multifocal lens implant focuses light from distance and near simultaneously. This feature addresses both distance and near vision and reduces the dependency on glasses significantly. Some patients do notice glare symptoms with night driving, but we screen for suitability for in all patients. 

 Vivity Lens
 
This latest advanced technology intraocular lens was released in the United States in August 2020. It is the best for computer distance and beyond, but it also enhances reading vision as well. It is built on a current platform that we regularly use that has been implanted in more than 120 million eyes around the world. It does not work as well for reading as the PanOptix lens, but typically has less glare symptoms. Both options significantly reduce dependence on glasses.

Toric 
Toric advanced technology lenses corrects astigmatism (blurred vision due to the inability of the eye to focus a point object into a sharp image), as well as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).

LASIK

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a popular vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.

At Eye Care for Rhode Island, we work closely with TLC Laser Eye Centers to provide LASIK co-management for our patients. Deciding whether LASIK is right for you can feel overwhelming, but our team is here to guide you through the process.

Your LASIK journey begins with a comprehensive eye examination at Eye Care for Rhode Island. During this visit, our doctors evaluate your vision, eye health, and prescription stability to determine whether LASIK may be a good option for you. We will answer your questions and provide the information you need to make an informed decision about vision correction surgery.

If you decide to move forward with LASIK, we will refer you to a trusted surgeon at TLC Laser Eye Centers, where advanced laser technology is used to perform the procedure. After surgery, our doctors continue to play an important role in your care by providing your post-operative follow-up visits and monitoring your healing to help ensure the best possible results.


Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?

Determining whether LASIK is right for you begins with a thorough evaluation at Eye Care for Rhode Island. During your exam, our doctors will assess several important factors, including your overall eye health, prescription stability, corneal thickness, and lifestyle needs.

If you appear to be a good candidate, we will coordinate your referral to TLC Laser Eye Centers for a detailed surgical consultation. Their experienced LASIK surgeons will perform additional testing to confirm candidacy and discuss the procedure with you in more detail.


Key LASIK Candidate Requirements:
To be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, you should meet the following criteria:

  • Age: Be at least 18 years old. Vision changes in younger patients may not yet be stable.
  • Stable Vision Prescription: Your glasses or contact lens prescription should be consistent for at least one year.
  • Eye Health: You should not have active eye infections, severe cataracts, keratoconus, or specific retinal or optic nerve conditions.
  • Corneal Thickness: Your corneas must be thick enough to safely undergo laser reshaping, as determined during your consultation.
  • General Health: Conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disorders that affect healing may disqualify you.
  • Not Pregnant: Hormonal changes during pregnancy or nursing can alter your vision prescription, so LASIK should be postponed.


Who is a candidate for LASIK based on age?
LASIK candidates must be at least 18 years old. However, age alone doesn’t determine candidacy. The best candidates for LASIK surgery typically fall within these ranges:

  • Ages 20-40: Often ideal candidates with stable prescriptions
  • Ages 40-55: May benefit from monovision LASIK or blended vision techniques
  • Ages 55+: May require additional considerations for presbyopia