Cataract Surgery – Treating Cataracts in the St. Louis and Chesterfield area

A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes clouded over time and begins to impair vision. For many people, cataracts are a natural part of aging, because most people have some lens clouding after age 60. As the eye's crystalline lens becomes opaque, an increasing amount of light is blocked from reaching the retina at the back of the eye. Images are seen less and less clearly, until vision has deteriorated significantly.

In the past, cataracts were treatable, but the surgery required a hospital stay, followed by a lengthy recovery. However, due to the availability of ultrasound technology, treating cataracts with cataract surgery at our St. Louis and Chesterfield practice is easier than ever. Dr. Bruce H. Cohen and Dr. Sharon L. Jick are now able to perform cataract surgery on an outpatient basis with far less discomfort and inconvenience than ever before.

• Small Incision Cataract Surgery
• Intraocular Lenses
  • Acrysof® IQ Toric
  • AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR®
  • AMO Tecnis Multifocal IOL
  • Crystalens®
• Posterior Capsulotomy

Small Incision Cataract Surgery

We are proud to offer small incision cataract surgery to patients in the St. Louis area. Using a method known as phacoemulsification, this innovative technique is the least invasive means of treating cataracts. During phacoemulsification, the surgeon inserts a small probe into the eye through a tiny incision. The probe emits ultrasonic energy that serves to break up the faulty lens into tiny bits, which are then removed from the eye.

To replace the lens, the surgeon will implant a permanent intraocular lens; this lens is crafted to a patient’s specific prescription and may therefore reduce his or her reliance on glasses or contact lenses. In most cases, stitches are not required to close the incision, as the eye’s natural pressure will help to seal it closed.

Dr. Cohen and Dr. Jick will give you specific postoperative instructions based on your individual needs. However, this method of treating cataracts allows many of our St. Louis and Chesterfield patients to return to their normal activities almost immediately, and with a minimum of discomfort.

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Intraocular Lenses

Choosing the right artificial lens to replace the eye's natural version is an important part of treating cataracts. In St. Louis and Chesterfield, we are proud to offer our patients the latest, most advanced intraocular lenses, or IOLs, available. The Premium IOLs offered at Cohen Eye Associates, Limited, are the Alcon Acrysof® Aspheric Restor, AMO Tecnis Multifocal, AMO® ReZoom™ lens, the Acrysof® IQ Toric lens, and the Baucsh and Lomb Crystalens®.

Acrysof® IQ Toric

For cataract patients with astigmatism, we offer the Acrysof® IQ Toric IOL The Acrysof® IQ Toric lens is a foldable, single piece lens that Dr. Cohen and Dr. Jick implant during cataract surgery to replace the clouded lens. The unique design of the Acrysof® IQ Toric lens provides QUALITY distance vision, independent of eyeglasses and contact lenses. This is another top-of-the-line intraocular lens implant, and it is specifically engineered to help correct corneal astigmatism.

Now, this revolutionary new technology makes it possible for the surgeon to perform a single outpatient procedure in which the clouded cataract lens is exchanged for an artificial lens designed to correct astigmatism as well.

Astigmatism is a common distortion of the surface of the cornea. This irregularity can cause blurred or distorted vision as incoming light rays are not focused properly. There are other ways to correct astigmatism. However, if you are also considering cataract surgery this single procedure will help remove the effects of astigmatism while also removing your cloudy cataract lens.

The Acrysof® IQ Toric lens will reduce or eliminate the need for correction and the use of prescription glasses. With the Acrysof® IQ Toric IOL, many of our patients can now see fine details at a distance without strain or distortion. The doctors at Cohen Eye Associates can help you decide which IOL is best for your unique needs - contact us for an appointment today.

For cataract patients with astigmatism, we offer the Acrysof® IQ Toric IOL. This is another top-of-the-line intraocular lens implant, and it is specifically engineered to help correct corneal astigmatism. With the Acrysof® IQ Toric IOL, many of our patients can now see fine details at a distance without strain or distortion. The doctors at Cohen Eye Associates can help you decide which IOL is best for your unique needs - contact us for an appointment today.

How does the AcrySof® Aspheric ReSTOR® IOL work?

As we perform daily activities such as reading, watching television or working at the computer, our eyes are constantly focusing on objects at varying distances – up close, far away and everything in-between. The ability to quickly change focus throughout this range of vision is called accommodation. Unfortunately, this ability diminishes as we grow older¹, causing us to become dependent on bifocals or reading glasses. However, the AcrySof® Aspheric ReSTOR® IOL was designed to provide quality near to distance vision by combining the strengths of apodized diffractive and refractive technologies. Similar technology has been used for years in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality, and has now been patented for use in intraocular lenses by Alcon. Here at Cohen Eye Associates, Limited, we use Alcon’s latest technology—the Aspheric ReStor 3.0 IOL— which allows us to extend a patient’s focusing range and minimize their dependence on bifocals and reading glasses.

Tecnis Multfocal Lens

This lens is designed to give patients back their youthful vision, the TECNIS Multifocal Lens provides patients with high-qualtiy vision at ANY distance, and in ANY light condition- even in low light.

If you are diagnosed with cataracts and are experiencing one or more of the following symptons, you may be a candiate for the lens:

Difficulty Reading
Difficulty seeing close objects
Difficulty seeing to drive, especially at night
Changing glasses prescriptions
Needing bifocals

Crystalens®

Approved by the FDA in 2003, crystalens® intraocular lens implants are remarkable for their ability to flex and conform in much the same way as the eye's natural lens. As a result, patients enjoy even clearer vision in bright and dim light, as well as at a variety of focusing distances.The crystalens® IOL is one of the premier options for patients who want to reduce their dependence on glasses after cataract surgery. Learn whether crystalens® is right for you by scheduling a consultation with Cohen Eye Associates.

The introduction of the latest generation of Crystalens, Crystalens HD, revolutionizes the premium IOL category and significantly improves on the industry-leading vision quality of Crystalens. The new Crystalens HD:

Utilizes a proprietary optic design that is optimized to increase depth of focus — as a result it is designed to improve near vision without compromising intermediate or distance visual acuity.

Delivers this near vision benefit while maintaining contrast sensitivity, amplitude of accommodation, and low risk of halos and glare.

The Crystalens HD provides very good vision for distance and for computer use. Many patients require glasses for reading books, magazines, and newspapers.

Learn whether crystalens® is right for you by scheduling a consultation with Cohen Eye Associates, Limited.

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Posterior Capsulotomy

The eye’s natural lens is held inside a clear capsule that is left mostly intact when treating cataracts. Sometimes, after cataract surgery at our St. Louis or Chesterfield office, this capsule develops cloudiness. When this happens, it is possible to quickly and painlessly create an opening in the capsule with a laser.

This procedure, called posterior capsulotomy, takes only a few minutes and restores normal vision within hours. Dr. Cohen and Dr. Jick will generally prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops to be used for several days following treatment.

If you are suffering from cataracts or experiencing post-surgery capsule cloudiness, our practice can help restore your clear vision with revolutionary intraocular lenses. To learn more about the best in cataract surgery, contact Cohen Eye Associates, Limited, in the St. Louis Area.

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