Cataract Removal in Rhode Island

At Koch Eye Associates, our highly trained team of experts perform both traditional and laser cataract surgery. When you come in for your comprehensive exam and evaluation, we will discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each type of surgery, as well as which type might be best for your lifestyle. As one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world, traditional cataract surgery is considered to be both very safe and very effective. The only major difference between traditional and laser cataract surgery is that the traditional surgery is performed with handheld surgical tools while the laser surgery is largely done via laser technology. If you are interested in cataract surgery, we encourage you to schedule your consultation at one of our Rhode Island facilities. We have offices located in Johnston, North Kingstown, Wakefield, Warwick, and Woonsocket, RI.

In general, most people in overall good health have a high chance of being a candidate for traditional cataract surgery. However, there are certain factors that can limit your eligibility. These include:

• Being pregnant or nursing
• Being in overall poor health
• Having a preexisting eye disease
• Being on certain medications

As part of your consultation, your ophthalmologist will thoroughly review your type and stage of cataracts, your lifestyle, and your medical history to ensure you receive the optimal treatment plan.

Koch Eye Associates performs most surgeries, including traditional cataract surgery, at the St. James Surgery Center in Warwick, RI. As with all eye surgeries, we will administer multiple types of numbing eye drops (not injections) prior to your procedure. The surgeon will place a device over your eye to keep it open and to ensure you don’t blink or move your eyeball. In traditional cataract surgery, the surgeon uses a handheld scalpel to make a tiny incision, roughly 1/8 inch in size, in the side of your cornea. Then the surgeon inserts extremely small surgical tools into the incision to reach the lens of your eye in order to create an opening in it. Through this opening, one of the surgical tools emits ultrasonic waves to break up the cataracts, which are then suctioned back out through the opening. The cataracts being removed are actually degraded, foggy pieces of the natural lens so an artificial intraocular lens must then be inserted to replace the old one. At Koch Eye Associates, all of our surgeons use self-healing incisions so you will not require any sutures.

After your surgery, you will sit down with one of our team members who will carefully guide you through the details of your specific aftercare instructions. These instructions may include things like when and how to use your prescription eye drops or if you need to sleep in a propped-up position for one or two nights. At Koch Eye Associates, we do not typically use eye patches after surgery so you will be able to use your new vision immediately. However, it is crucial that you avoid bumping, touching, scratching, or rubbing your eye throughout the healing process. Your vision will be a little blurry initially, but it will become clearer and stronger over the next several days. Your surgeon will schedule follow-up appointments over the next several weeks to carefully monitor your progress.

At Koch Eye Associates, we understand that the thought of having eye surgery can be unnerving. We are here to answer any questions you might have and help you put any concerns to rest. Our amazing team of ophthalmologists has performed hundreds of successful cataract surgeries on Rhode Island men and women, improving their vision and quality of life. Schedule your consultation today to begin your journey to being cataract-free.