Drs. John R. Campbell, John C. Shin and Christian Kim use the most current proven methods in their cataract surgery. They provide pre-operative consultations, second opinions and post-operative care.
What is Cataract?
Cataract is a clouding of the natural lens in your eye. It starts imperceptibly and typically progresses over time. It may come on slowly or quickly, in younger or older patients.

Cataract occurs as ultraviolet light entering the eye interacts with the proteins in the natural lens within your eye. The age of onset, rate of progression and severity of cataracts varies from one person to the next. Most cataracts simply come with age, but there are a number of risk factors: smoking, diabetes, retinal surgery, family history, prednisone and certain other drugs, trauma, inflammation.

Simulation of China Camp seen through a cataract	Simulation of China Camp after cataract surgery
Cataract causes symptoms including blurry vision near and/or far, sensitivity to glare, and an imperceptible but progressive loss of color vision as the lens turns yellow.

Simulation of Paris at night seen through a cataract	Simulation of Paris at night seen after surgery
Removal of the cataract restores clarity and color perception, and typically reduces glare (antireflective eyeglass lenses further reduce glare). Reading problems are a very common symptom of cataract.

Simulation of reading through a cataract	Reading vision restored after cataract surgery
Preventive measures should include wearing quality ultraviolet absorbing sunglasses, smoking cessation and control of diabetes. Balanced nutrition is always a good idea, though there are no proven dietary supplements shown to prevent cataract.
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How is Cataract Diagnosed?
Cataract is diagnosed in the course of a comprehensive eye examination by your ophthalmologist or optometrist, or call for an appointment at MarinEyes.

How is Cataract treated?
Once your vision with corrective glasses or contact lenses is no longer adequate for you to comfortably, safely do your normal activities, it is time to consider cataract surgery. The only effective treatment for cataract is cataract surgery. This is a common procedure. At Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center, we do about 700 cataract surgeries a year. The surgery involves a relaxing sedative and "topical" anesthesia for complete comfort. Under microscopic control, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a new, clear artificial lens.

Cataract removal by Phacoemulsification	Artificial lens implant
The surgery itself takes less than 15 minutes in most cases. The patient goes home about 2 hours after arrival at Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center. Typical post-operative care includes eye drops for 6-8 weeks after, and 3 post-operative follow-up appointments. Occasionally the post-operative care involves higher levels of medication and visits, but most people are ready for new glasses about 2 weeks post surgery. If you wish, you can see video clips of cataract surgery at MarinEyes Quicktime Clips or Windows Media Player
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Glasses After Cataract Surgery You will need to wear glasses after the cataract extraction procedure for either distance or reading vision or both in order to get the best possible vision, some if not all of the time. The degree of need and the circumstances when glasses will be helpful depend on your eyes, your activities and your expressed preferences. You should carefully discuss with your doctor any questions you have about how your vision will be with and without glasses. You and your doctor make a plan together to best fit your needs. More information on glasses needs and refractive issues is available. Download this questionnaire to bring to your pre-operative consultation.
Secondary Cataract
About 5-15% of patients having successful cataract surgery will later develop "Secondary Cataract." This may occur weeks, months or more commonly years, later, even after perfectly performed surgery. This requires a laser treatment (also available at Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center) to correct. The treatment is quick, painless and highly effective. Very infrequently, a torn or detached retina may follow this kind of treatment. Also very occasionally patients may develop glaucoma afterward. Again, these problems don't arise very often, and untreated secondary cataract causes progressive vision loss until it is treated with the laser.

Secondary Cataract before treatment	Secondary Cataract after YAG Laser Treatment
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Risks of Cataract Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Please read this information carefully and completely. If you have any questions, ask your eye doctor. Your decision should be based on your own visual needs following a thorough consultation with your eye doctor. The purpose of the following information is to give you a general introduction to the potential problems and potential benefits of cataract surgery. Any decision regarding surgery should be made by you in consultation with your doctor.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CATARACT SURGERY

Although the results of your surgery cannot be guaranteed, the expected benefit of cataract extraction is to improve vision to the extent allowed by removal of a cloudy lens.

Cataract extraction is intended to remove a cloudy lens that is reducing your vision. Usually, an artificial lens is placed after removal of the cataract. The cataract procedure will not improve the condition of the cornea, retina or optic nerve and if these structures are responsible for decreased vision, the cataract extraction process will not improve those problems. The surgery is intended only to improve the optical clarity of the eye hopefully resulting in a useful improvement in vision.

Specific results from this treatment cannot be guaranteed.

GLASSES AFTER SURGERY

You will need to wear glasses after the cataract extraction procedure for either distance or reading vision or both in order to get the best possible vision. You should carefully discuss with your doctor any questions you have about how your vision will be with and without glasses. You and your doctor make a plan together to best fit your needs. More information on refractive issues is available.

DISCOMFORT

Discomfort during surgery is unusual, and if it occurs additional pain relief medication is administered. After the surgery, irritation and minor aching is usually relieved by Tylenol or similar medication. If that is insufficient, call the doctor to discuss what should be done. Painful complications such as infection, high pressure, need for secondary surgeries or corneal abrasion occur infrequently.

COMMON RISKS

Any surgical procedure carries potential risks. Cataract extraction may be followed by complications. Risks of cataract extraction include, but are not limited to, infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, dislocation of the cataract or lens implant, corneal clouding or scarring, macular swelling (edema), worsening of diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration, glaucoma (high pressure), inflammation, reduced or complete loss of vision or eye, corneal abrasion, astigmatism, need for laser after cataract extraction, need for additional surgical procedures, bruising from injection, irregular pupil, iris prolapse, drooping of eyelid, glare or reflections from lens implant, and need for glasses after surgery.

Complications due to anesthetic injection or sedation are possible, due to drug reactions or other problems. These complications may involve other parts of your body, including the possibility of brain damage or even death. Rarely, the optic nerve may be damaged which can result in loss of sight. There is a possibility of hemorrhage or bleeding.

In some cases, complications may occur weeks, months or even years later. Some complications could result in the need for more surgical procedures. One situation that is fairly common is for a "secondary cataract" to form, sometimes months but usually years after even perfectly performed surgery. This requires a laser treatment (also available at Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center) to correct.

Since it is not possible to list every potential complication that may occur as a result of any surgery, this list may be incomplete and there may be risks associated with laser surgery that are currently unknown.

Contact your doctor with any problems noticed after the surgery, such as pain, light sensitivity, loss of vision, or unusual mattering or discharge from the operative eye. Many complications are manageable if caught early. You are responsible for reporting any symptoms and making arrangements to be evaluated.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

You may elect not to have cataract extraction, or to postpone it. In this situation, it is expected your condition will stay the same, or worsen over time. Presently, there is no other known therapy for reduced vision from a cloudy cataract other than surgical removal. You will confer with your doctor as to the lens implant style and power options for your needs.

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