For most cataract patients, life without reading glasses or bifocals is something they either experienced before presbyopia or they just dreamed about for most of their lives. But today, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is turning those dreams into reality with its revolutionary lens technology, which is designed to allow patients to see clearly at all distances without bifocals or reading glasses.

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is now available and delivers a high level of glasses-free vision for cataract patients.

In the clinical study, 80% of patients receiving the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL reported that they never wear glasses for any activities. With the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL they can read a book, work on the computer, and drive a car – day or night – and play golf or tennis with an increased freedom from glasses. In fact, patients were so pleased with their vision, nearly 94% of patients said they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL implanted again, if given the choice.

THE PROCEDURE:
Cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and usually requires just a few hours of your time from start to finish. Your eye will be treated with anesthetic prior to the procedure so you’ll feel little, if any, discomfort. First, a tiny incision will be made in the eye allowing your surgeon to use a small instrument (about the size of a pen tip) to break up or wash away the cloudy cataract. Once the cataract is removed, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL will be inserted through the same tiny incision and set into its permanent position.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:
After the procedure you’ll rest for a short while before you go home. Your doctor will typically examine your eye within 24 hours. You’ll need to use prescription eye drops to guard against infection and help your eye heal. For a few days, you may need to wear a protective shield, especially at night to prevent you from rubbing your eye. Everyone heals somewhat differently, but most patients see well enough to return to most of their routine activities the day after surgery. Once both eyes have been treated, you will fully appreciate the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL and realize that your cataract was one thing you could definitely live without.

The length of time for a cataract to develop can vary from a few months to several years. Vision loss from cataracts is gradual, which is why many patients have difficulty noticing the early symptoms. Most patients also do not know when is the best time to have cataract surgery often asking questions such as "Is it ripe yet?" Cataract surgery is recommended when your quality of life has been diminished because of poor vision. If you are bothered by glare, halos or starbursts when driving at night (especially on rainy nights), by an inability to see small print on the TV screen or when reading, by blurry road signs, or even double vision, cataracts could be the problem. With advances in modern medicine, there is no reason for anyone to suffer with cataracts anymore. If you notice decreased vision or you suffer from any of the above symptoms, we recommend a quick and easy screening with one of our doctors.

With Modern Cataract Surgical Techniques, patients not only improve their distance and reading vision, most also enjoy improvements in color vision, contrast and depth perception. Join the millions who now enjoy the beauty of restored vision through the miracle of modern-day cataract surgery.

Dr. Lasonde is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth and Brown Medical Schools. He has been practicing in New Hampshire and Maine since 1994. Having completed a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Lasonde is not only a Board Certified Eye Surgeon, he is also a Corneal Specialist. Dr. Lasonde specializes in Cataract Surgery, LASIK-Laser Vision Correction and the treatments of Glaucoma, Diabetic Eye Conditions and Macular Degeneration.

How Cataracts Are Formed

More than 50% of people over the age of 60 - and a large percentage of those younger - have vision that is impaired by cataracts. Cataracts are so common that everyone will eventually develop a cataract if they live long enough. Despite recent breakthroughs in technology and surgical techniques, cataracts continue to be one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye's natural lens that interferes with light passing through to the retina. Cataract patients often describe the condition as being similar to looking through a waterfall or piece of wax paper, with a gradual blurring or dimming of vision. Currently, there is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, there is only one way to restore clear vision, that is with surgery to remove the cataract.

Advancing The Art of Cataract Care

Thanks to recent advancements in technology and surgical techniques, cataract surgery has become one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today. Each year in the United States, more than one million people have their sight restored through cataract surgery. Many of our patients are pleasantly surprised when they learn that Dr. Lasonde performs cataract surgery without stitches, shots or even a patch to wear home.
We use topical anesthesia (eye drops), which allows our patients the fastest possible visual recovery. It is not unusual for our patients to enjoy dramatically improved vision within hours of their procedure. The vast majority of our cataract patients return to most of their daily activities less than 24 hours after their procedure.

How Dr. Lasonde Performs Cataract Surgery:

For most patients, removing a cataract is performed using a process called phacoemulsification, or small-incision cataract surgery. After anesthesia drops have been administered, a small incision is made to remove the hard center or nucleus of the lens. The remaining cloudy soft part of the cataract is then removed. Once the entire cataract has been removed, Dr. Lasonde will then place an intraocular lens that has been specifically designed for your visual needs. Normally, the procedure takes only a few minutes to perform, with patients remaining awake yet calm and comfortable. Patients often notice an improvement within a short time following the procedure. In most cases, it is now possible to return to most daily activities such as driving and reading the day following your procedure.

The Development Of The IntraOcular Lens

When the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy and forms a cataract, it can no longer properly focus light rays in your eye. To compensate for the removal of this cloudy lens, Dr. Lasonde will place a replacement or intraocular lens (IOL) into your eye at the time of surgery. Intraocular lenses are about the size of Lincoln's head on a penny and weigh about as much as a single kernel of corn. They are precisely designed and polished to an exact curvature to properly focus light and restore your vision. Our intraocular lenses restore vision for the rest of your life, and they are designed to screen out harmful Ultraviolet rays from the sun. Most patients are able to reduce or eliminate their dependence on prescription glasses after the surgery as a result of the intraocular lens.