Q. Do I need to wear glasses after receiving a Vivity lens?

A.  For small print or for dimly lit situations, Vivity lens patients may need reading glasses.  But for viewing everyday things, patients often do not need glasses.

Q. Who performs the cataract surgery?

A. The ophthalmologists at Kaufman Eye Institute perform every step of every procedure and do not delegate surgery to assistants.

 Q. I have astigmatism, how is that treated?

A. To achieve the best vision after cataract surgery, you can elect to upgrade to reduce your astigmatism toric monofocal lens, vivity, toric IOLs, or Light Adjustable Lens (LAL). 

Q. I have cataracts in both eyes, will Dr. Kaufman or Dr. Krambeer perform cataract surgery in both eyes on the same day?

A. No. We perform cataract surgery one eye at a time. Usually, our doctors monitor the patient's healing before performing surgery on the second eye.

Q. When do I stop eating before surgery?

A. Patients are not to eat or drink after midnight. You can take your regular medications with a small sip of water the morning of surgery. Those patients taking diabetes medication should defer from taking them as we do not want your sugar to be too low.

Q. Do I need to take eye drops before surgery?

A. Yes. Our office will provide you with a schedule of which medications to take and when.

Q. Can I drive home after surgery?

A. No. You will be given medication at the time of surgery which can impair your driving ability.

Q. How long until I can return to normal activities?

A. Yes, you can resume your normal activities the next day.  The only restrictions are no heavy lifting, no bending over, and avoid getting water on the eye for 1 week.  After 1 week, there are no restrictions.  Patients can drive the day after surgery.

Q. Can I go to the hair salon?

A. Yes, just advise your stylist of your recent eye surgery and to take precautions to prevent any chemicals, water, or hair spray from getting into your eyes.

Q. If I elect to have LASIK after IOL surgery, how soon can I have it?

A. We wait a minimum of three months after IOL surgery to give the eye adequate time to heal before performing additional surgery on it. Dr. Kaufman will be able to determine when you are ready for LASIK.

 Q. Can my cataract come back or can I develop a cataract after a lens implant?

A. No, once a cataract has been removed, it cannot return. Implant lenses do not cloud over like human lenses do.  However, over time patients may complain that their vision has once again become cloudy. This fairly common condition which may occur with any type of IOL, is known as a Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO).  If the PCO becomes bothersome, we can perform with a simple in office laser procedure called a YAG Capsulotomy.  This procedure is covered by insurance and is a one-time fix.

Q. Does lens implant surgery hurt?

A. Thanks to numbing drops and medication to help you relax, this procedure involves minimal discomfort. It is normal to experience some soreness for the first 24-48 hours after surgery, but severe pain is rare and should be reported to us right away.

For more information regarding the most frequently asked questions after cataract surgery, read Cataract Surgery Post operative questions.