Cataract Surgery — A Safe, Effective Process to Protect Vision

Donnie Rhett Koonce is a North Carolina resident who assists the optometric team at Charlotte Optometric Clinic. Focused on vision assessment and care, Donnie Rhett Koonce has extensive knowledge of procedures such as cataract surgery.

This painless outpatient treatment is safe and effective, and it typically requires only 15 minutes to complete. Addressing cataract-related vision loss, cataract surgery involves a minute incision in the eye, followed by use of an ultrasound probe that breaks up the clouded lens into tiny fragments. These fragments are then removed through a gentle suction process.

Once this stage is complete, an intraocular lens (IOL) is placed behind the pupil and iris, in the exact same position previously occupied by the natural lens. In general, these are monofocal lenses, with eyeglasses still required after surgery to address vision issues. Alternatively, patients with presbyopia may opt for multifocal and accommodating IOLs. These help ensure proper reading vision, while not affecting distance vision.

The incision created during cataract surgery heals on its own, with no need for stitches. A protective shield or patch helps ensure the eye stays safe and unimpacted during the early days of recovery. In situations where surgery is required on both eyes, there is a waiting period of one to three weeks between visits, which allows the first eye to heal before the second is treated.