Frequently Asked Questions
CONSULTATION
- Measurements of both eyes that will be used to help determine the right power of an intraocular lens for your eye.
- A dilated exam of both eyes
- A consultation with one of our surgeons to discuss a surgical plan customized to fit your needs.
- Scheduling future procedures and appointments with one of our surgery coordinators.
- Photo I.D.
- Insurance Card(s)
- New Patient Paperwork
- Personal calendar for scheduling future appointments
*Please note copays will be collected at the time of check in.
Click here to access your new patient forms. Filling them out before your appointment is a great help to our staff.
If you are able, it is preferred you send the completed forms to our office via email at eyecareteam@summiteyesurgeons.com or by fax at (623) 889-2452.
CATARACT SURGERY
- Due to the effects of anesthesia, you will need to arrange for a driver the day of surgery and for your post-op appointment the following day.
- Plan to be at the facility approximately 2-3 hours.
- There are 3 fees associated with this surgery: surgeon, facility, and anesthesia. The charges are billed separately to your insurance carrier.
- Please be prepared to pay any deductibles, outpatient co-pays, or other insurance responsibility regarding your surgery upon arrival at the surgery center.
- Contact Scottsdale Eye Surgery Center to confirm the anesthesiologist is contracted with your specific insurance plan
- Start Pre-Op drops 2 days before surgery.
- INSTILL ONE DILATING DROP TWO HOURS PRIOR TO CHECK IN TIME.
- Bring a copy of your insurance card(s) along with insurance forms if your insurance requires them.
- DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING 8 HOURS PRIOR TO SURGERY.
- Due to the effects of anesthesia, you will need to arrange for a driver the day of surgery and for your post-op appointment the following day.
A cataract is what your natural lens is called after it has become cloudy. Cataracts develop naturally with age and affect millions of people each year.
Although each patient is different, cataracts cause visual symptoms such as glare, blurry images, “haze,” and loss of contrast.
A cataract operation is indicated when you cannot adequately function or are unable to perform desired daily activities due to diminished sight produced by the cataract.
Using a microscopic incision, an ultrasound device removes the cataract from the eye. The artificial lens replacement is then rolled up and inserted into the eye. As it opens, the lens is positioned properly by the ophthalmic surgeon.
In most cases, the patient will have adequate vision for daily activities within 24 hours, good vision in a week, and outstanding vision within a month following their cataract surgery in Scottsdale, AZ. Because the incision is so tiny, there are few physical restrictions that they will have to contend with.
No. Once a cataract is removed, it will not return. The artificial lens placed in the eye will remain for the rest of your life.
Cataract surgery has come a long way over the past decade. Patients now have the option to minimize glasses altogether with advanced intraocular lenses. Using cutting-edge techniques, patients can have the freedom of excellent vision while driving a car, using a computer, or reading a book.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LENSES
Inside your eye, behind the iris and pupil, there is a clear lens. The lens is responsible for focusing light onto the retina so you can see. When you have cataracts, the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. This occurs when the proteins that make up most of the lens begin to break down and clump together, causing the lens to opacify.
To correct cataracts, this lens needs to be completely removed. When the lens is removed, it needs to be replaced to restore your vision so you can see correctly. This is where intraocular lenses (IOLs) come in.
Completely clear, IOLs are designed to mimic the natural lens. What makes Advanced IOLs special, however, is that they can hold specific refractive powers, much like your glasses and contact lenses. When implanted into the eye, these IOLs provide focusing power that your natural lens did not have, allowing you to experience clear and sharp vision.
Monofocal Lens | Basic Lens
The basic lens replaces the clouded lens with an artificial clear lens, increasing brightness and clarity. This type of lens will target either near or distance vision correction but does not correct astigmatism. Eyeglasses or contact lenses are usually required in addition to the intraocular lens. This type of lens is covered by insurance.
Advanced Technology Lenses
A lifestyle intraocular lens may be chosen to correct astigmatism and/or allow the possibility of reading without glasses. It is designed to correct both near and distance vision. Increased brightness, clarity, and definition of objects are this lens’s intended result. The best results will occur after both eyes have had implants and adequate time has passed to adjust to the lenses. These lenses are not covered by insurance.
Astigmatism | ORA Laser Technology
For patients with astigmatism, both monofocal and multifocal lens options are available that reduce the deficit of astigmatism. Your surgeon can help you decide if one of these lenses is the right option for you. These lenses are not covered by insurance.
The ORA Laser machine uses wavefront technology to analyze your eye in real time during the lens insertion process of surgery. The analysis can ensure that the lens placed is focused precisely, allowing for the best possible surgical outcome.
With advanced technology lens implants, Your surgeon can simultaneously correct your cataracts and any vision problems, such as needing eyeglasses for distance viewing or reading glasses. The implants can also be used to correct astigmatism, which is an irregular shape of the cornea that causes blurry vision.
Advanced technology lens implants treat cataracts and correct vision problems with one simple procedure. The implants will reduce your eyeglass prescription or your dependence on glasses to see objects far and near. This gives you:
• Greater range of clear vision
• Improved ability to switch quickly from distance viewing to close-up tasks
• Better vision capability in a variety of lighting
The primary considerations for advanced technology lens implants are:
• Your ability to pay more out-of-pocket compared to standard lens impacts which are covered by insurance
• Your desire to treat your cataracts and improve vision with one procedure
• Your desire to use eyeglasses and reading glasses less for daily activities
Your medical insurance will not cover the cost of your advanced technology lens implants. Medical insurance covers standard lens implants for cataract surgery, so advanced lens implants will cost you more. Call our office for details regarding pricing.
We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards for your out-of-pocket costs. Financing is available through CareCredit®.
POSTOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
- Your vision will not be crystal clear the day after surgery. It takes time due to the eye still being dilated, swelling, and ointment in the eye.
- It is very common to see arcs of light and floaters after surgery.
- If you had a multifocal implant, your near vision will take a bit longer to become clear then distance.
- There is a high likelihood you will develop some haze behind the implant after cataract surgery. This can happen immediately or can take several years. If this occurs, a YAG laser procedure can easily fix this.
- It is normal to feel a little scratchiness or irritation. This usually goes away in a day or two. You can use preservative free artificial tears to relieve symptoms.
- If you had floaters prior to surgery, you will still have them after surgery. Cataract surgery does not remove floaters.
- If you are on drops for glaucoma, dry eye, or any other condition, it is okay to resume the day after surgery unless you were specifically instructed not to.
- You may feel a little bit dizzy, nauseous, or have a mild headache from the anesthesia depending on how you react. Most people do not have a reaction.
- With a basic lens, you will require glasses for distance, near, or both. Your optometrist can check for that after your 3-week follow-up.
- It is very important to continue the entire course of drops after surgery. This is to ensure the risk of infection and vision threatening inflammation is at a minimum.
