Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures in history with over two million performed last year.
Dr. Epstein and Dr. Ewing have been pioneers in small incision cataract surgery and were the first in the Rogue Valley and Northern California to use “no shot, no stitch, no patch” technique on virtually all of their patients. Our experienced surgeons gently remove the cloudy lens through a tiny incision and replace it with an intraocular lens.
Upon arrival in the surgery suite the patient will receive medication to allow him to relax and feel comfortable during the operation. The eye is numbed with powerful anesthetizing drops and a microscope is used to perform the delicate surgery. Once the incision has been made a tiny ultrasonic probe is used to dissolve the cloudy lens. This advanced procedure is called phacoemulsification. The ultrasound probe is skillfully used to clean out all cloudy lens material and preserve the capsule, a delicate membrane that surrounds the lens. Dr. Epstein and Dr. Ewing have each performed thousands of cases with this technology with a remarkably high success rate.
After the cataract has been safely removed the artificial lens is inserted into the eye and securely placed within the capsule of the original lens. The intraocular lens implant restores clarity and the focussing power of your eye. There are many different considerations in choosing the right lens implant and your surgeon will discuss which is best suited for your eye. (For further information see Lens Implants) The tiny incision is self-sealing and usually no sutures are required.
Patients are usually surprised that the procedure is so quick and painless.
Typically the surgery last about twenty minutes. After surgery there is little or no discomfort for the average patient. At the conclusion of surgery there is a brief stay in the recovery area and the patient is discharged with an appointment for a postoperative visit on the following day.