Cataract Surgery

There are several factors that are important to consider when deciding who will perform your cataract surgery.

Dr. Michael Kelly performs nearly 100 percent of his cataract surgery using Topical Anesthesia.

1) Topical Anesthesia
The use of topical anesthesia is an alternative to a retrobulbar block (needle injection) to numb the eye for the surgery. Topical Anesthesia is applied by drops and/or ointment directly to the eye.

There are several benefits of topical anesthesia to the surgeon and the patient. Topical anesthesia eliminates all needle complications to the globe and surrounding structures. This also eliminates the need for an eye patch after surgery. A faster recovery is achieved and because there is no interruption in vision there is a much higher patient satisfaction rate.

Dr. Michael Kelly performs all of his cataract surgery with a clear cornea incision.

2) Clear Corneal Incision
A clear cornea incision is a 3mm or smaller incision made in the perimeter of the cornea near the temple. This incision provides a corneal tunnel through which the cataract is removed and the intraocular lens is implanted. The entire procedure takes less than eight minutes on average.

Benefits of a clear cornea incision are it is a self-sealing incision that requires no stitches. This reduces healing time and eliminates the possibility of surgically induced astigmatism.

Dr. Michael Kelly performs all of his cataract surgery with phacoemulsification.

3) Phacoemulsification
The phacoemulsifier is an ultrasonic probe which vibrates 40,000 times a second. It breaks up the cataract into tiny microscopic pieces which are gently aspirated out of the eye. This method of cataract removal is the least traumatic to the eye.

4) Intraocular lens (IOL)
The intraocular lens is the lens that your surgeon will place inside your eye to take the place of the natural lens that has been removed.
Click here to learn more about your lens implant options.