If you have cataracts, surgery is the only remedy, so naturally you want the best cataract surgeon. You will find that surgeon at Elmquist Eye Group. We have been serving the Fort Myers and Cape Coral area for over 25 years.

About Cataract Surgery

Best Cataract SurgeonPatients can get by for a while with cataracts. We can make more frequent changes to your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription, but when your vision becomes significantly affected, it is time for surgery.

The procedure is quick and painless. In fact, most surgeries take no more than 10 minutes. The surgeon first breaks up the cataract with a laser, then removes the natural clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant. We only operate on one eye at a time. We normally wait at least two weeks before operating on the other eye to remove that cataract. We want to make sure your first surgery is properly healed.

Immediately after the surgery, patients remain in our recovery area for about an hour for patient monitoring, then someone will drive you home. You will have a protective shield taped over your eye and we will send you home with two eye drops to use as directed. For the drive home, we provide you with sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight glare.

How do cataracts form?

As people age, natural eye proteins break down as a normal part of the aging process. These proteins clump on the eye lens, clouding vision and scattering light, thus making it hard to read or drive at night. Most people notice cataracts in the late 60s or 70s, but some patients have signs of a cataract as early as age 40.

Cataracts do range in severity. In the early stages, people normally don’t experience any vision changes. However, as the protein breakdown progresses and further clouds the lens, people do begin experiencing vision issues. Our patients typically report night driving as the first problem area.

Our Elmquist eye care specialists perform several diagnostic tests for cataract detection. If you are over age 65, we routinely include these tests as part of our overall comprehensive eye exam.

Patients should know that the vast majority of cataracts are age-related, but some people can develop a cataract after having another type of eye surgery, as can patients who have taken steroids for an extended period of time.

After Surgery

We send you home with antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection and another prescription eye drop to reduce inflammation. For about a week, you apply both drops several times per day. Some patients experience more significant inflammation and may need the anti-inflammatory drops for up to one month. It is important to use both drops exactly as prescribed. While most patients only feel slight discomfort after surgery, a patient can use an oral pain reliever like acetaminophen if it is needed.

Patients with cataracts eventually need surgery to remove the cataract and restore normal vision. Left untreated, a cataract becomes severe enough to create profound vision loss. Your eyesight is precious, so don’t delay. Call Elmquist Eye Group today. We have the best cataract surgeons in the area, and we want you as our next patient.