Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgery


When do I need Cataract Surgery?


One out of two people over the age of 60 suffer from cataracts. When cataracts progress to the point that they affect vision, it’s time to trade in the clouded lens for a crystal clear lens.

Modern cataract surgery involves removing the clouded natural lens and implanting a clear replacement lens. The standard replacement lens is focused for one field of vision, typically distance vision—most patients who receive a standard lens require glasses for reading and other close-up activities.

For some cataract patients, freedom from glasses is important. For them, Hester Eye Care offers a new generation of premium lenses that provide sharper vision with less reliance on reading glasses or bifocals.

A Medicare ruling allows beneficiaries to receive partia
l payment for state-of-the-art premium lenses that correct for vision at all distances. Learn more about our premium lenses.

We also offer Toric lenses for patients with astigmatism.
Learn more about Toric Lenses.

Cataract Lens Types


Premium Cataract Lenses


Wearing reading glasses after cataract surgery is no longer the only option. Dr. Joe Hester is qualified to implant a new generation of premium lenses that are specially designed to provide vision at all distances, dramatically reducing or eliminating your need for glasses.


 There are several available premium lenses, and Dr. Joe Hester offers a variety of options in order to provide you with the most appropriate treatment for your visual needs. Personalizing your procedure leads to better results and more visual independence for you.


If you’re interested in greater freedom from glasses after cataract surgery, your surgeon will discuss your lifestyle and thoroughly examine your eyes to determine the best lens or combination of lenses for you.

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Monofocal Aspheric Cataract Lenses


There are several positive features of monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). First, the latest generation of monofocal IOLs, which employ aspheric lens technology, offer the sharpest image of any available IOL.


Due to their aspheric design, these lenses provide excellent contrast sensitivity and an extremely high quality of vision in a variety of lighting conditions. Individuals who require excellent distance vision, such as golfers, or those who frequently drive at night, may be well suited with an aspheric monocular IOL. People who have certain eye diseases, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma, may also benefit from an aspheric monocular IOL. For these individuals, the compromised state of the retina is assisted by the aspheric lens to form the sharpest image possible on the retina.


One disadvantage is that only one zone of clear vision can be chosen with a monofocal lens. Most people choose to have their monofocal lens set for distance vision and use reading glasses for near tasks. Alternatively, a monofocal lens can be set for near vision, but glasses or contact lenses are then required to see objects clearly at a distance. A blending of these two approaches is also available for individuals undergoing cataract surgery or natural lens replacement in both eyes. In this approach, called monovision, the monofocal IOL placed in one eye can be set for distance and the IOL placed in the other eye targeted for near. While 85% of people can adapt to monovision correction, a small percentage of people, however, may feel off-balance with this approach.

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Toric Cataract Lenses


For cataract patients who also have astigmatism, Toric IOLs (Intraocular Lenses), offer a chance to finally enjoy quality distance vision without glasses or contact lenses. Toric IOLs are specially designed to offer correction for both cataracts and astigmatism in one easy procedure.

The AcrySof® Toric Lens


Cataract Surgery is a quick, outpatient procedure where a surgeon removes the eye’s clouded natural lens and replaces it with an artificial lens (the IOL mentioned above). If you have astigmatism, however, you may still have blurred vision because a standard IOL cannot correct astigmatism. To achieve quality distance vision with a standard IOL, you may still require eyeglasses, contact lenses or further surgery.

You now have a better option. The unique design of the AcrySoft® Toric lens provides improved distance vision, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses and contacts to correct astigmatism (you may still need reading glasses).

The Toric lens is made of the same biocompatible lens material already successfully implanted in more than 25 million eyes since 1991.


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Multifocal Cataract Lenses


Multifocal lenses incorporate both distance and near-powered lenses into one lens. The lower-powered zones bend light coming from distant objects to a single focal point on the retina. The higher-powered zones bend light from near objects to the same focal point on the retina. Thus, different zones of lens power work together to provide simultaneous near and distance vision.


 Several types of multifocal IOL lenses are currently available for implantation in the eye. The ReZoom™ lens and the ReStor™ lens are two commonly used lenses that work by the multifocal lens principle. Each lens incorporates ring-shaped zones of differing optical power to provide a multifocal effect.


 The main advantage offered by multifocal lenses is the opportunity to become less dependent on reading glasses for near activities. Activities that were once easily enjoyed without glasses, such as reading or sewing, now require that a pair of reading glasses always be available. For people frustrated by the need for reading glasses, multifocal lenses offer a good alternative.


 Not everyone is a good candidate for multifocal lenses. A multifocal lens can offer a good alternative if there are no disqualifying conditions of the eye. After a careful examination your surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate for this type of lens.

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