3 Ways Refractive Cataract Surgery Improves Your Quality of Life

Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness worldwide, and cataract surgery is considered one of the most successful procedures in modern medicine, with a 98 percent success rate.

While the traditional procedure can restore a clear visual field, it does not improve other common vision problems such as refractive errors, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.

In contrast, premium cataract surgery concurrently removes the clouded natural lens and corrects vision issues. This is achieved through the use of a femtosecond laser and premium Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs). 

What does this mean? Your quality of life will be radically and permanently improved.

1.    Suffer Fewer Falls

Most people with cataracts are over the age of 55 and are at risk of severe injuries if they suffer a fall. Refractive cataract surgery gives you clear, crisp vision and stereopsis (depth perception). This means you have an accurate understanding of how far the railing is away from your hand as you go down your stairs, be able to see a black chord on a black carpet, and other such scenarios that could quickly turn dangerous with poor visual acuity.

2.    Reduced Dependence on Glasses

Whether you need glasses during all waking hours to see clearly or only when you have to read small lettering at a restaurant or on your phone, remembering to grab your glasses is a hassle. Wearing glasses is a frustrating intervention to the natural flow of life. In addition, glasses are costly, change your overall appearance and are further prone to scratches, bends and other damage over time. And this assumes that you don’t lose them! Moreover, you may avoid certain activities because your glasses slip or fog. Refractive cataract surgery can free you from glasses permanently so that you can enjoy every waking moment with sharp vision.

3.    Stay Independent and Productive

Poor vision can not only lead to falls but make it difficult for you to drive yourself to and from appointments and social events, limiting your activities. It may also inhibit your contributions to the household as you may require assistance for the most minute of tasks, such as reading your medicine label, engaging with your grandchildren in play or reviewing a recipe. Refractive cataract surgery can lengthen your independence, making you a productive member of society (and your family) for longer.

What is Refractive Cataract Surgery?

Refractive cataract surgery and the traditional procedure both remove the natural lens of your eye where the cataract develops. The standard procedure typically corrects vision at one focal distance, which means you’ll still need corrective eyewear for refractive errors, including reading glasses.

However, premium cataract surgery has the added advantage of using premium designed IOLs that hold a prescription and implements the use of a femtosecond laser that fully resolves astigmatism. These premium IOLs sharpen your vision and reduce or eliminate your dependence on contact lenses, prescription eyeglasses, and even reading glasses by correcting your eyesight at once for distance, intermediate and near vision.

Premium IOLs, including accommodating and multifocal IOLs for presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision) with refractive cataract surgery, can give you total visual freedom unencumbered by glasses for the longevity of your life. You can read the small print on the menu in your hands and seamlessly switch to viewing beautiful scenery out the window.

Patients benefit from refractive cataract surgery in obvious ways. While society gains an elderly population that is independent and high-functioning thanks to quality vision enabled by premium IOLs.

Schedule your eye exam at Laser Eye Center in Los Angeles to see if premium refractive cataract surgery is right for you. Our eye doctors have six locations throughout the Southern California area and can help you achieve better vision.