What Do You See During Cataract Surgery?

We always like to take the time to carefully explain all of the things patients having cataract surgery and lens implants might experience during their visit to the surgery center and even during their cataract surgery procedure. In this way we are hopefully helping them relax and have an easy and comfortable experience as we correct their vision. For just about all of our patients having cataract surgery, they are awake and quite aware of what is going on in the operating room. Every once in a while a patient will be curious about what they will actually see during the cataract procedure since they are awake. As this can really vary greatly from patient to patient we were please to find the results of a study that can give patients some guidance of what they might experience.

Results

Patients having cataract surgery were asked to describe the quality of the visual experience as, pleasant, neutral or unpleasant. The group of 200 patients interviewed in the study included an almost even mix of men and woman around the age of 70 years old and as is to be expected, were a bit anxious before the surgery and were given an oral tablet to help them relax. They all reported seeing some gradation of colors including in descending order blue, red, pink, yellow, green, purple, turquoise, and orange with the most common color combination being red-blue light which was most likely from the operating microscope. Most-61% of the light and color experiences during surgery were reported to be pleasant, 38% were neutral and 1% found them unpleasant. Overall the experience of light and colors seen during cataract surgery is mildly pleasant and in fact should reassure patients that the visual experience is actually somewhat calming and relaxing during cataract surgery.

If you or some you know is concerned about having a cataract or needing cataract surgery and lens implants and worried about what they will see please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

Welcome Alexandra Braunstein, M.D.!

Please join all of us at The Eye Care & Surgery Center in welcoming Dr. Alexandra Braunstein to our practice. Dr. Braunstein is a Reconstructive & Cosmetic Eye Plastic Surgeon and will serve patients requiring eyelid and orbital reconstruction after trauma, eyelid skin cancer or ocular tumor surgery, minimally invasive endoscopic tear duct surgery and repair of eyelids that unnaturally turn inward or outward. She has a special interest in helping patients interested in blepharoplasty “eyelifts” or cosmetic eyelid surgery for baggy, puffy eyelids and brow and forehead surgery to lift troublesome areas.

At The Eye Care & Surgery Center in Westfield, Dr. Braunstein will provide in office, “no downtime” procedures for facial rejuvenation for men and women using non surgical treatments & injections to minimize or eliminate the effects of aging. These include treatment for eyelid bags, creases, folds, fine lines and wrinkles. Her approach for women is to restore their natural, refreshed, youthful appearance by gently tightening, volumizing and lifting the delicate eye, facial features and chin. For men, Dr. Braunstein strives to maintain an energetic, masculine but softened ruggedness. Depending on your areas of concern this may require BOTOX® injections alone or in combination with gel fillers and tightening injections such as Juvéderm, Restylane®, Radiesse® or Kybella® to create the desired result.

About Alexandra Braunstein, M.D.

Dr. Braunstein is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Harkness Eye Institute-New York Presbyterian Hospital where she is actively involved in teaching eye surgeons procedures and techniques for patient care in the areas of reconstructive eye plastic surgery. She earned her Medical Degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and then completed a Residency in Ophthalmology at Columbia University Harkness Eye Institute-New York Presbyterian Hospital followed by a Fellowship in Orbital, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Braunstein is trained as both an eye surgeon and cosmetic and reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgeon.

Dr. Braunstein is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), is a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). 

To learn more about facial rejuvenation or cosmetic eyelid surgery or to meet or schedule an appointment with Dr. Braunstein please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-798-8999.