Cataract surgery is most often performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The clouded lens is either removed intact through a 10-12 mm incision or is dissolved using a high frequency ultrasound and a much smaller incision, approximately 3 mm. An artificial lens is implanted in both cases. The surgery continues to improve with such recent developments as no-stitch surgery, topical anesthesia, surgical correction of astigmatism and new lens designs. It takes a few months for the eye to heal completely, but the patient is able to return to normal activity soon after surgery.

For more information on Cataracts, go to the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery website: http://www.ascrs.org