A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. This clouding can make it harder for light to focus properly, causing vision to appear blurry, hazy, or less vibrant.
Restore your vision and enjoy the moments that matter most with advanced cataract surgery at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. Our experienced surgeons use state-of-the-art technology and personalized lens options to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique vision needs. With convenient locations throughout Tampa Bay and The Villages, expert cataract care is never far from home.
Cataracts often develop gradually, making changes in your vision easy to overlook. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, it may be time to schedule a comprehensive cataract evaluation.
Bright lights may appear surrounded by halos, especially while driving at night.
Objects lose their sharpness and everyday activities become more difficult.
Reduced contrast and increased glare can make nighttime driving more challenging.
Colors may appear dull, yellowed, or less vibrant than they once did.
Needing stronger glasses more often may be a sign your cataracts are progressing.
Reading books, menus, or text on your phone may require brighter light or magnification.
During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens gets removed and replaced with a clear, new artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Your surgeon will position the IOL in the same place as your natural lens. This artificial lens becomes a permanent part of the eye, allowing for clear, unobstructed vision.
Typically, the surgery is performed by making a tiny incision on the side of the cornea. In some cases, your surgeon may use a laser to perform some aspects of the surgery, resulting in an even gentler, more precise procedure. After the cataract is completely removed, your surgeon replaces it with an IOL, which allows light to focus clearly again.
Cataract surgery at St. Luke’s is done on an outpatient basis and your surgeon usually uses a local anesthetic to numb the area around the eye. Although there are some risks associated with any surgery, this procedure is generally a safe and easy one and complications, if any, are usually minor.
The most independence from glasses with the fullest range of focus.
(Light Adjustable Lens, Panoptix, Panoptix Toric, Vivity, Vivity Toric)
Overall clarity will be improved, but may still require glasses for best results.
– The Refractive Surgery Council
Cataract surgery offers numerous benefits, significantly enhancing the quality of life for those who undergo the procedure. Here are some of the key advantages:
Improved Visual Clarity: The most immediate benefit is a significant improvement in visual clarity. Many patients report bright and clear vision shortly after the surgery.
Enhanced Color Vision: Cataracts can dull and yellow your vision. After surgery, colors may appear brighter and more vivid than they have in years.
Increased Independence: With the restoration of clear vision, many patients find a renewed sense of independence, being able to drive, read, and perform other daily activities without the limitations caused by cataracts.
Better Quality of Life: Improved vision contributes to a better overall quality of life. It can reduce the risk of falls and accidents associated with poor vision and improved mental health by possibly allowing for more social and physical activities.
In addition to life changing vision, St. Luke’s highest priority is safety in the care of our patients. In fact, our surgical center has a significantly lower incidence of eye infection and other surgical complications than the national average. Our innovations include:
Filtered solutions – To further reduce the risk of infection, the infusion solutions used during surgery first pass through special filters before reaching the eye.
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory solutions – Specially formulated antibiotics are added to anti-inflammatory solutions and placed directly in the eye after surgery, greatly reducing the risk of postoperative infection.
Balancing medications – We neutralize the PH level in medications used during surgery to reduce irritation, dryness and discomfort. This makes the surgery and recovery more comfortable.
Ultraviolet lighting – When operating rooms are not in use, special ultraviolet lighting is activated to reduce bacteria. This is the same type of lighting used in cardiovascular units.
Eye pressure checks – Your eye pressure is checked in the first two hours following surgery to ensure that the incision is tightly sealed. Special instruments are used during your surgery to help alleviate the risk of postoperative pressure rise.
At St. Luke’s, cataract surgeries are performed in our Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Tarpon Springs and Wesley Chapel. Pre-op and follow-up appointments are available in Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Spring Hill, Clearwater and Wesley Chapel.
A better quality of vision means a better quality of life for our patients. Our history of innovation, thoughtful adoption of new technologies, and unsurpassed commitment to care truly gives our patients the best opportunity to achieve their vision goals. St. Luke’s has some of the most experienced cataract surgeons in the world. You’re in great hands here.
Cataract surgery is recommended when vision changes begin to interfere with everyday activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces. Common symptoms include blurred vision, glare, halos around lights, and difficulty seeing at night. Since cataracts cannot be corrected with glasses or medication, surgery is the only way to restore clarity once they progress.
Cataract surgery is designed to be comfortable. Numbing eye drops are used during the procedure, and most patients feel little to no pain. Some mild irritation or a scratchy sensation afterward is normal but typically resolves quickly.
The procedure itself usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes per eye. It is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can return home the same day.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover cataract surgery when it is medically necessary, not including deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance. Coverage typically includes a standard lens, while advanced technology lens options or refractive upgrades may involve additional costs.
Once a cataract is removed, it cannot return. However, some patients may develop cloudiness behind the new lens over time. If this occurs, it can be treated with a quick, in-office laser procedure called a YAG.
