Cataract Surgery in Chattanooga, TN

 Cataracts are a natural consequence of aging. Like joints, skin, muscle, and other body parts, the human lens can deteriorate due to age. Although not the only cause of cataract, age is the leading cause. Other reasons can be diabetes, toxic reaction to certain medications, and injury. Glenn N. Pomerance, M.D., leads a team of experienced ophthalmologists dedicated to helping you live your life without vision limitations.

At Pomerance Eye Center, P.C., we offer advanced cataract surgery performed by highly skilled, genuinely nice professionals. Our state-of-the-art facility is easy to access from across Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia, and Northeast Alabama. For premium cataract surgery, including the correction of astigmatism and presbyopia ("elder vision"), call our experienced team for a consultation today!

CALL US: (423) 855-6800 REQUEST APPOINTMENT

How Do Cataracts Occur?

The shape of the human lens is often compared to an M&M peanut candy. The candy has three parts: the peanut, surrounding chocolate, and the colored coating. The corresponding lens parts are the nucleus, cortex, and capsule.

Each of these structures can deteriorate and form a cataract, and often they all occur at once. If the lens cannot cleanly focus light due to a cataract, it is scattered or absorbed, and vision deteriorates. You can notice the diminished function while reading, driving, working, or just enjoying the sights.

You may need cataract surgery if your function is disturbed by any of the following symptoms:

• Double vision
• Fuzzy, cloudy, or foggy vision
• Changes in how you see colors
• Issues with bright headlights when driving at night
• Problems with glare from the sun or lamps
• Frequent prescription changes for your eyeglasses

How to Determine if Cataract Surgery is Needed

For many decades it was said that a cataract had to be fully opaque or "ripe" to be removed. However, it is more appropriate now to assess the functional implications of the cataract to determine if removing it will be beneficial.

Measuring the function is the job of your ophthalmologist, who takes a history, examines the eye, and assesses the extent of impairment. If vision loss is interfering with your daily activities, it may be time to consider treatment. A cataract may occur in one or both eyes, but it does not spread from one eye to another.

How Common are Cataracts?

By some estimates, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the world. In the United States alone, over three million cataract surgeries were performed last year. Baby boomers are accounting for a dramatic increase in these numbers. By the age of 80, most individuals have either had cataract surgery or need it.

Advances in Cataract Surgery

Quantum leaps in technology have helped to make cataract surgery safer over the years. Small incision, no-stitch cataract surgery using an ultrasound probe to dissolve the cataract and remove it has made cataract surgery more reliable and outcomes more predictable. We now offer femtosecond laser-assisted cataract extraction (affectionately nicknamed LACE), using the CATALYS® laser device.

This technology offers added safety and accuracy by automating some of the previously manual steps of the procedure using a computer-driven laser. The science of cataract surgery is continually improving outcomes and safety!

New Intraocular Lenses

Restoration of vision after removing the human lens has been made very accurate with the advent of new technology intraocular lenses. These small lenses, made of acrylic polymer, are implanted into the eye at the time of cataract surgery and refocus the light, often more accurately than the human lens ever did. Multifocal intraocular lenses can not only repair distance vision but also restore near vision lost to aging.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

At Pomerance Eye Center, P.C., our practice and surgical suite are in the same location. A cataract operation takes between 8 and 15 minutes, is done under topical or local anesthesia (doctor preference) in an outpatient ambulatory setting (no hospital stay), and recovery is very rapid. Usually, you can return to normal function the day after the surgery.

Having your eyes operated on can be stressful, so we use sedation in most cases. You will want to rest and relax after the procedure and let the effects of sedation wear off. It is not only possible to reverse the effects of aging, but now we can turn the clock back and restore the reading vision lost to peeper glasses after age 40.

Treating Astigmatism

We have much experience with multifocal and Toric (astigmatism correcting) intraocular lens implants for cataract surgery. These newer lenses correct optical errors surgically to allow greater freedom from spectacle and contact lens correction. Be sure to see the web page entitled Extended depth of focus and Toric IOLs for more information.

Your Chattanooga Cataract Treatment Center

Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed, and it is also one of the safest and most effective. At Pomerance Eye Center, P.C., our team of experts can help you determine if cataract surgery is ideal for you. Call today for a consultation!

CALL US: (423) 855-6800 REQUEST APPOINTMENT