Cataract Surgery

A Chesapeake Eye Care Center of Excellence

The Chesapeake Cataract Center is a private, state-of-the-art, Medicare-certified surgical care facility integrated within The Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center in Annapolis on the Anne Arundel Medical Campus. At this world-class Center of Excellence, Dr. Heather Nesti, Dr. Gaurav Srivastava, Dr. Olivia Dryjski, Dr. Luke Chang and Dr. Daliya Dzhaber offer cataract patients personalized attention and customized treatments that result in an unparalleled patient experience. These four renowned surgeons, along with the Center’s highly trained cataract care specialists, provide the most advanced testing and technology available to ensure optimal results. 

Even though cataract surgery has become one of the most common surgical procedures in the U.S., selecting the right doctor and the right facility are important considerations. Choosing the Chesapeake Cataract Center is a decision patients can make with confidence. Among the Center’s many qualifications include:   

Experienced Surgeons

• The Chesapeake Cataract Center’s award winning, board-certified surgeons are highly trained experts who have performed over 25,000 cataract surgeries.

Results Oriented

• The Chesapeake Cataract Center’s surgeons provide the best results possible to improve the full range of vision and minimize, if not eliminate, dependence on glasses.

Innovative Technology

• The practice is the first in Anne Arundel County to offer patients the bladeless LenSx® Laser for cataract surgery. By offering bladeless LenSx Laser cataract surgery with the latest lens options available, and ORA Precision Vision technology for increased accuracy and vision correction, the Center’s surgeons can truly customize each procedure to suit a patient’s preferred lifestyle. This innovative technology is revolutionizing cataract surgery and optimizing the outcomes patients are experiencing.

Integrated Surgery for Complicated Vision Cases

• In many cases, cataract patients have other vision or medical issues, such as astigmatism, glaucoma, diabetes or previous surgeries. The Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center doctors bring valuable expertise and specialized training that allow patients the comfort of knowing their complex conditions are carefully evaluated prior to any cataract procedure.

The Doctors’ Choice

• Medical professionals from all over the region choose the Center for themselves and their families, as well as for their patients.  

The Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center team performs both Traditional (Manual) and Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery, a revolutional surgical option that provides patients with unparalleled visual results. We are proud to be the first in Anne Arundel County to offer bladeless cataract surgery to our patients. The main difference between the two methods is how the incision is made:

• Traditional (Manual) Cataract Surgery: incisions are made with a blade and access to the cataract is obtained by manually tearing the delicate capsule and using ultrasonic energy to break up the cloudy lens.
• Laser Cataract Surgery: a 3D image of your eye is taken to determine the cataract’s location and precise measurements. A computer controlled laser uses this information to make the incisions and break up the lens into pieces. Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center is pleased to offer Alcon’s LenSx laser, a bladeless, computer-controlled laser that allows our surgeons to plan and perform your surgery to exacting, individualized specifications not attainable with other surgical methods. Coupled with ORA Precision Vision, which is a second laser that enables our surgeons to get the most accurate intraocular measurements for precise lens power and placement, cataract patients are achieving unprecedented visual outcomes. With this innovative technology, our surgeons can truly customize each procedure. The LenSx laser can also help treat a condition known as astigmatism by creating precise incisions in the cornea. Astigmatism is a condition in which the surface of the eye has a more oval shape rather than a round shape. For those with astigmatism, ORA Precision Vision improves accuracy of correction, thus reducing the need for glasses after surgery. The LenSx® laser also helps soften cataracts for easier removal. During surgery, the clouded lenses are removed and, in most instances, replaced with an intraocular lens, referred to as IOLs. Today, we are able to offer patients, a variety of options for IOLs to accommodate individual needs.

Both methods remove the eye’s cloudy lens and replace it with an Intraocular Lens. Incisions in both methods are typically so small they do not require sutures. The team at Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center will talk with you about which type of surgery is best for your specific needs.

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Before Your Surgery

Before your surgery, our team will discuss various types of lens implants with you. How you see after surgery will depend on the type of lens implant used. It is vital that you discuss your lifestyle and vision expectations so that we can determine the right premium lens implant for you.

During Your Surgery

Cataract surgery is relatively “patient-friendly.” It is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in less than 15 minutes. “Phacoemulsification” is the microsurgical technique used. It requires a tiny incision and breaks up the cataract with ultrasound waves.

• Patients are given topical numbing drops and IV sedation, or twilight anesthesia, to ensure that they are comfortable and relaxed. 
• The surgeon makes an incision and uses ultrasound waves to break up the hard, yellow proteins that form the cataract, leaving the lens membrane in place.
• Next, a soft, flexible synthetic Intraocular Lens (IOL) is inserted into the lens capsule of the eye.
• The lens is a permanent fixture that helps your eye to focus. You will not be able to feel or sense the implanted lens in any way.

After Your Surgery

Because there are no needles or injections, only a tiny incision, stitches and an eye patch are often not required after the surgery. In most cases, the incision is so small that the eye heals rapidly, with little or no discomfort, and the patient experiences a quick visual recovery. Patients can typically return to normal activities within a few days. The following video describes some symptoms patients may experience directly after their cataract surgery.

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Cataract lens technology is constantly evolving and our doctors provide the latest technology with the highest quality outcomes. Our team will work with you to decide when your cataracts must be removed and which type of IOL is best for your visual needs. Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center uses three basic types of lenses, each designed for a specific corrective function.

During the first 25 years that lens implants were used for vision correction, the goal was to correct distance or far vision as best as possible (single-focus). The very latest in premium multifocal and toric lenses can improve vision for various distances all at once. This means not having to wear glasses following your procedure and regaining your important reading vision:

• Multifocal Lens: Designed to give patients the best distance and near vision with less dependence on glasses after surgery. 
• Toric Lens (Astigmatism): Toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatism for patients that have moderate to high astigmatism. Patients can choose to have distance or near vision and will need glasses for the other distance. 
• Single-Focus Lens (Basic): The single-focus lens is effective in clearing the cloudiness from cataracts. But the patients who choose this option will most likely require glasses full time (bifocals or progressive lenses) to correct blurriness caused by residual astigmatism and presbyopia.

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Medicare and most insurance plans cover the costs for cataract surgery with a single focus lens and traditional (manual) surgery, with additional out-of-pocket charges for multifocal and toric lenses and bladeless laser cataract surgery. With this one-time opportunity, many patients find the extra expense well worth the exchange for freedom from glasses or contacts.

Financing is also available for a portion of the premium lens charge. Our staff will review all of this information with you before your surgery.

We offer several payment options to suit your needs:

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): You can save up to 30% by using tax-free dollars to pay for your cataract surgery. Many employers offer an FSA or Health Savings Account.
• Financing: Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center is pleased to offer deferred financing and extended payment plans through ALPHAEON CREDIT or CareCredit. 
• Credit Cards: Many patients opt to pay for their procedure using a personal credit card. This may be a good option, especially if you have a card that carries a low interest rate or offers points and other rewards.
• Charity Care with Operation Sight: Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center is proud to participate in the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation’s Operation Sight program, which provides free cataract surgeries to area patients who lack health insurance and meet the 200% Federal Poverty Level. Help us address preventable blindness.

Contact our staff today to review the best financing options for you.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is the natural clouding that develops in the eye’s crystalline lens. As the leading cause of vision loss among adults age 60 or older, cataracts impair vision, making everyday activities increasingly difficult. 

What Causes a Cataract?

The most common factor for developing a cataract is age. Other contributing factors may include increased exposure to sunlight, diabetes, ocular inflammation, ocular trauma and family history. Certain medications can also promote cataract formation.

What are the Symptoms?

Cataracts cause a variety of symptoms and each patient's symptoms can be unique. The most common are a decrease in vision, glare or poor night vision. Some people experience double vision or muted colors. Patients may not notice a cataract has formed, as it is usually a slow process and we visually compensate. It can take anywhere from a few months to several years for a cataract to fully develop.

Is Cataract Surgery Effective?

Yes! Many patients report vision that is even better than before they developed cataracts. Modern cataract surgery is considered one of the most effective medical procedures used today. 

Can a Cataract Come Back?

Over time, the lens implant can develop a "film" behind it, which can again cause symptoms of blurred vision. A simple laser capsulotomy procedure can be performed to create an opening in the film in order to restore normal vision. Laser capsulotomy does not require going to the operating room nor does it involve any incision into the eye. It only takes a few minutes and is painless. 

Where is Cataract Surgery Performed?

Your cataract procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes less than 15 minutes. In most cases patients can resume daily activities such as driving or reading, almost immediately.

Does Insurance Cover Cataract Surgery?

Yes. Medicare and most insurance plans cover approved cataract surgeries. There is an additional charge for advanced technology lenses and laser surgery. Our staff will review all of this information with you.

It is an exciting time for cataract patients who want to improve their full range of vision, regain their quality of life and minimize or eliminate their dependence on glasses. Call us today at 1-877-DR4-2020 or click here to schedule a cataract consultation.