Cataract Center of Excellence
The doctors at Atlanta Ophthalmology have collectively performed more than 20,000 cataract surgeries. Together, they have created a Cataract Center of Excellence. Drs. Reay Brown and David Palay are founding partners of Atlanta Ophthalmology and are former professors and faculty members of the Emory University Department of Ophthalmology. In 1999, they combined to form Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates. Their experience and surgical expertise have created requests for consultations from doctors across the country and they frequently receive requests from other eye surgeons to perform surgery on some of their most difficult cases. They are truly the doctors’ doctors.
The cataract surgery evaluation begins with an initial consultation. Each patient receives a complete ophthalmic exam including dilation. During this consultation, the need for cataract surgery is determined. There is a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits of any proposed surgery. One of the most important aspects of this initial consultation is to educate the patient concerning options for intraocular lenses (IOLs). New technology lenses can now customize the correction of astigmatism. This lens technology can correct most patients for distance vision, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for distance glasses. Patients with this type of correction often need reading glasses for near vision. Other patients may be candidates for presbyopia-correcting IOLs. These lenses have the potential to eliminate glasses altogether for both distance and near.
Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates offers state of the art laser technology, referred to as femtosecond, for use in cataract surgery. This innovation allows our surgeons to perform some of the most challenging steps in cataract surgery by using a laser. “Femto” is a blade-free advancement alternative to traditional cataract surgery. It offers more precise outcomes, as well as increasing the chances of freedom from glasses. Laser cataract surgery optimizes surgical accuracy and most importantly; patient safety, comfort and recovery. The use of a topical and/or local anesthetic means you can be in and out of the surgical center within hours.
If you decide to have surgery, a preoperative appointment is scheduled with your surgeon approximately one week prior to the procedure. During this exam, you and your surgeon will discuss options and reach a decision about which implant is the best option for you. The power of the IOL is calculated using multiple independent methods. This maximizes the accuracy of your implant power. Your surgery will be performed at the Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center, just down the street from the AOA office. This surgery center is run by Northside Hospital and focuses specifically on eye surgery. The center is committed to AOA’s surgeons each day they operate, ensuring the best quality experience for their patients. The surgery center assumes the same philosophy as our doctors: the highest quality of care and the use of the finest equipment available.
Thank you for educating yourself about the best options for your vision and for considering Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates for your care. Our doctors want the best for your vision.
Cataracts tend to develop as part of the aging process of the eye, so everyone eventually has cataracts. The natural lens inside the eye is clear when we are born and begins to become yellow and cloudy as we age. There is no pain associated with the cataract development but there are symptoms and other risk factors.
- Blurred/hazy vison
- Glare/halos around lights at night
- A temporary improvement in near vision
- Needing more light to see to read
- Being over 55 years old
- Eye injury
- Eye disease
- Family history of cataracts
- Smoking
- Use of certain medications
Because cataracts develop slowly, it can be difficult to determine a specific time when cataract surgery becomes necessary.
The decision to proceed with cataract surgery is based on a patient’s symptoms. Difficulty seeing to drive at night, seeing road signs clearly, blurred vision that impairs reading, hobbies or other activities such as golf or tennis are all common complaints that lead to the decision for cataract surgery. It is no longer the norm to wait until a cataract is “ripe.”
Cataract surgery is the only way to remove a cataract from your eye and restore your vision. It is very important to understand that the presence of cataracts does not indicate the immediate need for surgery. You can manage them for years with glasses or contact lenses. Surgery is necessary when your cataracts start to interfere with your daily activities.
Annual visits with your eye care professional are important as you age to monitor changes in your vision due to cataracts. This will enable your eye care professional to make recommendations on whether surgery is necessary and which type of lens implant is right for you.
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.
Multifocal lenses are designed to correct a range of vision. The ReSTOR IOLens is a multifocal lens that is designed to provide quality near, intermediate and distance vision.
Acrysof Toric Intraocular Lens:The Toric IOL is a breakthrough in IOL technology that can correct corneal astigmatism along with near -or far-sightedness. Astigmatism is a term that describes the shape of the cornea. It is not a disease. An ideal cornea is spherical like a basketball. A cornea with astigmatism is shaped like a football. This prevents light from being focused clearly on the retina.
Patients with corneal astigmatism who elect to receive the Toric IOL should have better vision without glasses as compared to those receiving a conventional IOL.
Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates offers a state of the art laser technology for use in cataract surgery called femtosecond. This innovation allows our surgeons to perform some of the most challenging steps in cataract surgery by using a laser.
“Femto” is a blade-free advancement alternative to traditional cataract surgery as seen in the video above. It is painless and offers more precise outcomes, as well as increasing the chances of freedom from glasses. Laser cataract surgery optimizes surgical accuracy and most importantly; patient safety, comfort and recovery.
This technology allows for a quick and painless procedure which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes with a rapid recovery time. The use of a topical and/or local anesthetic means you can be in and out of the surgical center the same day with no overnight stay.
Once the surgery is complete, your surgeon will cover the eye with a bandage or shield and after a short recovery you can have someone drive you home. We will see you the following day in our offices for your post-op appointment to ensure the health of your eye and the success of your new lens.
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I am aware of his efforts around the world to teach others of his techniques. It is obvious that he really cares about what he does, the sign of a great doctor.
I pray that he will continue to take care of himself and have a long and glorious life."
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