A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that can impact vision a little or a lot, depending on its severity. Believed to be just a normal effect of aging, cataracts mostly affect older adults, though a family history or congenital condition may put younger people at risk as well. Your lifestyle often changes drastically if you develop cataracts: you may not be able to read books or watch TV, your driving ability may be impaired to the point that it isn't safe anymore and you may deal with irritating double vision or light sensitivity. It's not surprising, then, that many people with cataracts opt for refractive cataract surgery.

About Refractive Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery has been around for quite a while, and some things haven't changed-like the fact that there's no way to remove a cataract from the lens without removing the lens itself. So during any surgery for cataracts, the patient's natural lens will be replaced with a new, clear lens. Refractive cataract surgery, however, is relatively new, and its goal is a bit more aggressive: to eliminate the cataract while also improving patients' overall vision. The end result is that many people who need glasses and contacts before surgery may be able to toss them afterward, thanks to the new generation of intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Choosing IOLs

There are several versions of IOL available for patients today:

* Crystalens is unique because it attaches directly to the ciliary muscles, allowing the eye muscles to move the lens. These IOLs move naturally with your eyes to give you a clear picture of objects at all distances.
* ReSTOR lenses contain zones in concentric circles that allow the eyes to see images clearly both up close and far away.
* Tecnis, like ReSTOR, has concentric rings for multiple-distance viewing. It is also foldable, allowing the surgeon to insert it through a small incision.

Your surgeon will go over the pros and cons of each IOL and help you decide which is right for your anatomy and lifestyle.

Additional Benefits of Surgery

Removing the cloudiness associated with cataracts is, of course, the primary aim of surgery. But with today's IOLs, refractive cataract surgery can also help with nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as these conditions:

* Presbyopia. This is a condition, affecting everyone beginning in middle age, makes it tougher to focus on objects up close. All of the lenses above offer presbyopia treatment.
* Astigmatism. This condition is the main reason people used to need glasses or contacts after surgery. Lenses known as toric IOLs are now available to treat astigmatism during surgery.


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