Cataracts - North Toronto Eye Surgery Centre

Cataracts

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Elevate Your Vision, Transform Your Life with Cataract Surgery

At North Toronto Eye Surgical Centre, we encounter patients with cataracts regularly. We understand the causes and the impact on vision. Experiencing vision loss due to cataracts can be daunting, frustrating, and inconvenient. Cataracts can profoundly impact your lifestyle, independence, and mobility.
If your vision is progressively deteriorating due to cataracts, making everyday tasks like driving or reading medication labels increasingly difficult, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our cataract specialists. We can explain the reasons behind your vision decline and discuss the available solutions. Our dedicated eye doctors provide effective treatment options and exceptional patient care. We prioritize educating our patients to help them make informed decisions about their treatment.

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How Do I Know if I have Cataracts?

Cataracts are diagnosed during an eye examination conducted by your optometrist or ophthalmologist. You might have cataracts if you experiencing the following symptoms:

Distance Vision Impact: You may struggle to notice details on the road.
Blurry Objects: Objects may appear blurry, affecting activities like sightseeing, golf, or tennis.
Foggy Vision: Vision may appear to be like you’re looking through a foggy window. Initially only a small part of your is affects, but as the cataract grows, the cloudy area expands, making your vision duller and blurrier.
Night Vision Difficulty: As cataract worsen, they block more light from reaching the retina, making it harder to see and drive at night. You might also need more light for indoor activities such as reading.
Light Sensitivity: Indoor light can seem too bright or you may feel difficulty seeing in bright sunlight.
Colour Changes: Colours may start to appear faded, and your vision might take on a yellowish-brown tint. This change is gradual but can eventually make it hard to distinguish colours.
Frequent Prescription Changes: You may need to change your glasses or contact lens prescription more often than once a year. Some individuals may notice an improvement in their near vision and temporarily not need reading glasses, a phenomenon known as “second sight”, which usually fades as the cataract progresses.

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What To Expect

Consultation
Pre-Surgical Measurements
Before Your Surgery
Surgery Day
Recovery

Embarking on Your Cataract Surgery Journey

Your path to cataract surgery begins with a comprehensive consultation. We will guide you through each step of the process. On your consultation day, you will meet with our team of doctors and surgical counsellors and we will conduct advanced ocular surface testing (OST) on your eyes using our state-of-the-art technology. The OST will reveal the state of tear quality, tear production, and the resulting contour of your ocular surface. Tailoring your cataract treatment plan based on OST allows for optimal surgical outcomes, increase comfort pre- and post- operatively, and faster healing.

Cataract Care Guide

In addition to these tests, the doctor will perform a thorough, dilated eye examination to determine the extent of your cataracts and identify any other eye conditions that may impact your vision. This detailed examination, combined with the test results, will help the surgeon evaluate any potential risks associated with cataract surgery.

During this visit, you will also be asked several lifestyle questions, such as whether you drive, your hobbies, your preference for wearing glasses, and your expectations after surgery. This information will give your surgeon a complete understanding of your visual needs and lifestyle, enabling them to recommend the best cataract surgery option for you through a custom vision plan.

Lifestyle Questionnaire

Custom Cataract Packages

Eye measurements are needed to select the appropriate lens implant (IOL) for your cataract surgery.

Standard measuring using A-Scan ultrasound
Advanced measuring using LenStar Biometry, iTrace Wavefront Aberrometry, OPD Refractive Power/ Corneal Analyzer, Pentacam® Corneal Tomography, Specular Microscopy, IOL Master®, Verion™ Image Guided System

These diagnostics provide invaluable data from your eyes to uniquely customize your treatment plan and select the most suitable intraocular lens (IOL), especially for selecting lifestyle IOLs that will maximize your quality of vision and minimize your dependence on glasses.

For More Information on Advanced Diagnostics

Ocular Surface Optimization

To rule out any concerns regarding poor ocular surface and unreliable lens selection, our Surgical Team will recommend dry eye therapy at home or in-office. Certain pre-surgical measurements may be repeated based on the recommendations of the surgeon to ensure highest chances of vision satisfaction post-op.

Medical history and Physical forms

Our Cataract Surgical Team will review your medical history prior to your surgery. Please arrange to see your family doctor or specialist at least three weeks before your surgery to complete necessary medical screening forms. It must be received at the surgical centre two weeks prior to your surgery.

Preparation

Please start your medicated eye drops as instructed, two days before your surgery.
Please arrange an escort or driver to take you home after cataract surgery
Please do not wear any eye make up, contact lenses, or lash extensions to surgery
Please do not eat after midnight with clear liquids only up to three hours before

Printable Pre-operative Instructions

When you arrive at the surgical centre, our surgical staff will check you in and help you get prepared. Cataract surgery is a routine procedure that generally lasts less than twenty minutes. If you require cataract surgery in both eyes, the surgeries will performed on separate days for each eye, typically one to two weeks apart.

After our surgical nurses prepare you for surgery you will be guided into the operating room. A topical anesthetic is used to numb your eye. You will be awake during the procedure but you will be provided with light IV sedation to make sure you are comfortable.

In order to remove the cataract, a small incision is made on the cornea, either manually by the surgeon or via laser through last assisted cataract surgery. The surgeon uses a special instrument called an ultrasonic probe or via laser to break up, liquefy and remove the cataract. Following the removal of the cataract, your selected artificial lens implant (IOL) is implanted where your cataract once was.

Following the surgery, you will have time to rest before your escort takes you home. Cataract surgery does not require an overnight stay.

To Conclude Your Cataract Journey

Common symptoms post-surgery includes blur, light sensitivity, tenderness around the eyes, sandy, itchy, or scratchy feeling of the eyes. These symptoms may last for several hours to a few days. For initial discomfort, you can take Tylenol or Advil. It is normal for vision to take a few days to gradually improve and clear; this will vary by individual and eye as factors depend on recovery, complexity of the surgery, and density of cataract. Alcohol is to be avoided for the first twenty four hours but you may resume normal eating. The plastic shield over the operated eye is recommended to use when sleeping for the first three days. Using lubricating drops is encouraged and medicated eye drops is a must. Careful cleaning around the eyes and avoid pressure/rubbing of the operated eye for two weeks. You can bathe at any time, but only shower from the next down for the first three days. Light activities can be resumed, but avoid strenuous activities for two weeks.

You will have a post-operative visit with our doctor at the surgical centre within a week. We advise that you avoid driving for the first few days or until your vision clears. We recommend that you wait two weeks for short air travel and a month for longer travels. You can return to desk jobs in three to five days but heavy lifting-based jobs we recommend that you resume after 2 weeks. If near tasks are difficult, use over-the-counter reading glasses or your old pair of bifocals until you visit your optometrist a month after surgery.

Printable Post-operative Instructions

Cataracts Before and After

I’m so happy with my new eyesight!

I had the second cataract surgery yesterday, even better than the first. The dilation in the eye is gone. There is very little of the dryness feeling you can anticipate experiencing. I chose the option of improvement in distant sight and now with a pair of cheaters I am using the computer to write this, Amazing!!!! The staff are kind and considerate and go out of their way to make you comfortable and ease any anxiety you might have. I would highly recommend this centre if you are wanting cataract surgery. Many thanks especially to the Surgery team.

Thankful to Dr. Hess!

The result of my cataract surgery is, so far, better than expected. Dr. Hess handled a challenging patient and was still able to perform a successful surgery. Thankful to her and her team!

My Outstanding Experience!

From the initial consultation, through the technicians, the nurse Svetlana and the staff in the operation room to the final follow-up with Dr. Sera Kwon, I received exceptional care and attention that exceeded my expectations…Their expertise and professionalism are evident in every aspect of their work…The results? Absolutely amazing! My vision is now crystal clear, and I couldn’t be happier. The level of care and attention to detail provided by this team is truly exceptional. I am forever grateful for the incredible service and life-changing results. I highly recommend Dr. Rabinovitch and his team to anyone seeking exceptional care and outstanding results. Thank you for giving me the gift of clear vision!