Cataract Procedure and Treatment
 1Visit is It Cataract Patient Information
A Matter of Personal Choice
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You use your eyes so much that it's easy to take good sight for granted.
You may forget how important sight is to your feeling of independence.
If a cataract begins to cloud your vision, everyday activities may become
more difficult. Your cloudy vision may also make you feel less comfortable,
even depressed.
The vision loss we experience from cataracts is often
so gradual that eyesight may be severely impaired before we admit it.
Many people believe that it is normal to lose vision just because they
get older. Others, afraid of losing their independence, tend to deny the
problem.
Cataracts occur in more than half of people ages 65
and older. More than one million people have cataracts removed each year
using one of the most successful procedures modern medicine has to offer.
If your only problem is a cataract, the probability is excellent that
you will see well enough to pass a driver's test after your cataract is
removed.
The goal of cataract treatment is to maintain your ability to carry out
needed and desired visual activities. Since the cloudy cataract lens can
be replaced by a clear implant, with a high probability of success, the
decision on how to treat your cataract depends on how you feel about your
vision problems and how those problems are interfering with the things
you want and need to do in your life.
If a cataract is clouding the way you see things, we want you to know
that people of all ages have experienced the joy of improved vision through
one of the most common and most successful procedures ever devised.
A Cataract Is Like A Cloud
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Most people believe a cataract is a growth over the eye. However, it
is simply a part of the body's normal aging process where the natural
clear lens of your eye becomes discolored and cloudy with age.
Just as a camera uses a lens to focus objects on film, the eye also uses
a lens to focus objects on the retina. Just as a cloudy camera lens gives
us a cloudy picture, a cloudy human lens (or cataract) gives us cloudy
sight.
Cataracts usually occur without any particular reason. Occasionally,
they may develop from an injury or diseases such as diabetes. Cataracts
become more common as we age, tend to run in families, and may actually
be inherited. It has been said that everyone will get a cataract if they
live long enough.
Generally, cataracts tend to get worse with time. Vision becomes dull
and hazy. Bright light and glare often cause problems, and glasses may
require frequent changes. As the condition worsens, reading and driving
can become more difficult. When left untreated, cataracts may result in
blindness.
Once a cataract has formed, glasses may improve vision for a while, but
removing the cataract can eliminate the cloudy haze between you and the
visual world. Fortunately, with modern cataract removal most patients
are satisfied with their vision.
Since 1980, the doctors of Southern Eye Center have devoted a major portion
of their practice to the special needs of people with cataracts. The medical
advances today make the decision about cataract treatment much easier
for you.
Super Exam - Same Day Cataract Removal
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Anyone who requests cataract removal undergoes a "Super Examination"
to determine the characteristics of the cataract and the improvement that
can be expected.
Our surgeons direct Southern Eye Center's highly trained staff through
a series of sophisticated examinations to determine the measurements of
your eye and the characteristics of your cataract. A computer analysis
of this information assists us in matching the proper lens to your eye.
We request that you read our cataract booklet and watch our educational
video so we can intelligently discuss the treatment options available
to you. When requested, our office arranges all exams, tests and lens
measurements, so that the entire process is coordinated with your cataract
removal in a single visit. This same-day approach reduces the time spent
traveling for office visits and allows you more time to do the things
you really want to do.
Modern Day Miracle
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At Southern Eye Center, we use a process called phacoemulsification.
This is a technique using a vibrating probe to soften the cataract so
it can be vacuumed out through a small incision.
In 1973, our doctors began phacoemulsification, the most advanced method
of cataract removal. By the late 80's, approximately 2% of cataract procedures
were performed using this technique. The benefits of this procedure, such
as quicker results, earlier return to work, and improved function in daily
activities now makes it the preferred method of cataract removal by the
majority of American ophthalmologists.
Cataract removal is often described as a modern-day miracle by people
who have had the procedure. Thanks to advanced technology and surgical
techniques, people are choosing to have their cataracts removed sooner
than ever before. U.S. Food and Drug Administration data reveals that
in healthy eyes most everyone will see well enough to get a driver's license
following cataract removal. These results become even more impressive
when you realize more than 87% of American ophthalmologists perform a
cataract procedure less than 100 times a year while approximately 21 surgeons
in the United States perform over 1,000 cataract procedures per year.
The doctors at Southern Eye Center consistently perform approximately
2,000 cataract procedures each year.
Clearly Normal Vision
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Intraocular lenses provide the most natural vision possible. Unlike glasses
or contact lenses, these implants replace the cloudy lens within your
eye. Even if you have already had a cataract removed, an intraocular lens
can be implanted.
Our surgeons have used implants to restore sight in people ranging from
infants to over 100 years of age. Research shows that implants are successful
in people with glaucoma and even those on blood thinners. Although diabetics
have numerous eye problems, implants are the preferred method of restoring
sight for most people with diabetes who have cataracts. The modern miracle
of cataract removal offers an improvement in vision for most people -
sometimes dramatically.
Because of the tiny incision, we have eliminated the need for stitches
and patches so the eye can heal naturally. This method has proved to be
highly successful in improving sight following cataract removal.
Our doctors have used intraocular implants since 1975, taught one of
the first implant courses in Mississippi, and gave one of the first lectures
on implants to the Mississippi State Medical Association. They have presented
research papers, lectures, and talks to eye surgeons on five continents
and major American cities from Boston to San Diego.
Excellence In Comfort, Commitment & Safety
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Committed to the belief that your eyes are everything, Southern Eye Center
now offers you the added comfort, convenience, and cost-saving benefits
of Mississippi's first office based Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) dedicated
entirely to eye care.
Our ASC has been certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, so you can be assured of having your procedure performed in
a facility that meets national standards, while enjoying the safety, comfort,
and convenience of having everything performed under one roof.
We find that our approach of complete openness and education combined
with gentleness and kindness allows us to perform cataract procedures
with minimal amounts of anesthetic medications. People having their cataract
procedure at our facility tell us they experience little, if any, discomfort.
Most people are amazed that they can walk in and out of the operating
room by themselves. They sit in a big chair and are able to talk and sometimes
sing with our surgeons while the cataract is removed. People often tell
us they enjoyed the procedure in spite of the singing.
Our Technique Makes The Difference
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Southern Eye Center has developed a number of anesthesia procedures to
improve the comfort and safety of people undergoing cataract procedures.
Our anesthesia personnel perform so many eye procedures they become very
experienced in dealing with the needs of people having eye surgery. Since
only one eye is put to sleep, even older people with serious medical conditions
typically do well with these techniques.
Almost 20 years ago, our doctors published one of the first research
papers showing that people who undergo an eye procedure do better without
overnight hospitalization. The federal government later declared that
outpatient cataract removal is the standard of care.
Life Time Vision
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Because cataract removal is an extremely precise and delicate procedure,
it is performed under the high magnification of a powerful microscope.
When removing the cataract, we take only the cloudy material from its
natural sack or clear outer covering. The new intraocular lens goes into
this sack.
A cataract never grows back after it has been removed. If you later notice
a haziness in your vision, it is typically due to a clouding of the body's
natural sack that holds the implant. If this haziness is bothersome, your
vision can be restored almost immediately with a brief laser procedure
called a YAG.
The YAG permanently clears the lens sack instantly without a surgical
incision and takes only minutes to perform.
Quick Recovery
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Our procedures are designed to get you back to your normal routine as
soon as possible. Since our doctors perform no-shot, no-stitch, no-patch
cataract removals, most people are able to get up and walk out of the
office after a procedure. After receiving a snack and care instructions,
you are ready to leave.
Many people experience very little, if any, discomfort. You will use
drops in the treated eye several times a day and wear sunglasses to protect
the eye. You can bend, stoop, and drive your car (but make sure you are
seeing well enough to be safe). Many people prefer to return to work immediately.
It's fine to read and watch TV. Do what you feel you can do, using common
sense as your guide.
Because of their innovative techniques for cataract removal, Southern
Eye Center's surgeons have written or been the subject of many national
publications, been invited to lecture on nearly every continent and have
led specialized surgical teams all over the world.
A Message From Our Doctors
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Southern Eye Center has been a proud part of Mississippi eye care for
more than two decades. With an emphasis on personal attention and concern,
Southern Eye Center has grown into a truly specialized eye care center,
with our own Ambulatory Surgery Center and fellowship-trained surgeons
who specialize in many areas of eye care. Our surgeons devote themselves
to keeping abreast of the latest developments and fine-tuning their surgical
skills. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and advanced surgical
techniques, people having their procedure performed at Southern Eye Center
can be assured they are receiving the highest quality eye care available.
If you decide that you need to see better, we want you to know that cataract
removal is possible with minimal, if any, discomfort in the safety and
convenience of a facility dedicated to the needs of people just like you.
Because of our advanced methods and surgical experience, your sight is
restored to as close to normal as possible. The quick recovery allows
you an early return to most of your normal business and recreational activities.
Southern Eye Center's "High Tech-High Touch" philosophy has
gained national attention because we pride ourselves in believing that
warmth and sincerity still count. We realize that each person is unique,
and we take great care to understand each person's individual needs so
we can give you the special attention you deserve.
We appreciate the faith and confidence you have in our ability and thank
you for trusting us with one of life's most precious gifts...your vision.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your visit
more pleasant.
Your eyes are everything. At Southern Eye Center we're dedicated to keeping
them healthy.
Affordable Eye Care
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Southern Eye Center is dedicated to keeping medical costs affordable:
- We strive to provide medical care regardless of financial concerns.
- Southern Eye Center participates in Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross,
Vocational Rehabilitation, Champus, and several other insurance programs
to keep your costs down.
As Mississippi's first outpatient surgical center dedicated exclusively
to the needs of people with eye diseases, Southern Eye Center is able
to reduce costs. The U.S. Office of Inspector General reported that a
person having cataract removal in a facility such as Southern Eye Center's
could save hundreds of dollars off the cost compared to that of a hospital
outpatient department.
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For Post-op Instructions
To Learn More About Our Cataract Specialists:
Lynn B. McMahan, M.D.
Kiper
C. Nelson, M.D.
C. Byron Smith, M.D.
Francis Soans, M.D.
To schedule a consultation for a Cataract Procedure
in the Hattiesburg or surrounding Mississippi
area, please call 601-264-EYES or email
us today.
(601)264-3937
1420 S. 28th Ave
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