Cataract Surgery in Edmonton, Alberta

Serving Patients in Edmonton, Alberta

Have you noticed your vision deteriorating, growing increasingly clouded? Does your impaired eyesight make you feel as though you are looking through a piece of waxed paper or a fogged-up window?

If these symptoms sound familiar, you might have cataracts. A cataract can develop regardless of your age, though they typically affect older adults. In fact, more than 50 percent of adults over age 65 either have a cataract or have had surgery to treat their cataracts.

Fortunately, Edmonton corneal subspecialists Dr. Joseph Leong-Sit and Dr. Dean Mah at Eye Q Premium Laser are renowned for their expertise in cataract surgery in Edmonton. With more than 25 years of collective vision correction experience, Dr. Leong-Sit and Dr. Mah have performed over 20,000 procedures, including innumerable cataract surgeries.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s normally clear, crystalline lens. A cataract often develops with age, as a result of proteins clustering together on the eye lens over time. Cataracts tend to progress gradually, leading to increasingly clouded eyesight.

What Causes Cataracts?

Again, the natural aging process often plays a role in the development of cataracts. Aside from the aging process, other causes of cataracts include:

  • Eye injury
  • Prior eye surgery correcting a different eye issue
  • Certain diseases (e.g., diabetes)
  • Certain lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking, UV exposure)
  • Radiation exposure
  • Congenital traits causing cataracts to grow in both eyes, either in utero or during childhood (The cataracts may be insignificant in size, so they do not impair the child’s vision.)
  • A strong family history of cataracts

Cataract Treatment Options in Alberta

Edmonton cataract surgeons Dr. Leong-Sit and Dr. Dean Mah may be able to treat early-stage cataracts with prescription glasses or contact lenses. However, as a cataract advances and further impairs vision, the only way to treat the condition effectively is to remove the cataractous, or cloudy, eye lens with surgery.

What to Expect During Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a quick outpatient procedure. It is performed under topical anesthesia, so the most you feel is a mild pressure sensation. Most importantly, you should notice an improvement in your vision within 24 to 48 hours after surgery.

To start cataract surgery, your surgeon creates a 2-mm incision in the cornea. Using a technique called “phacoemulsification,” he inserts a small probe emitting ultrasonic waves to break up the cataractous lens into minute pieces. Your eye surgeon can then easily suction the fragments from the eye. Once your surgeon has removed the cataract-diseased lens, he replaces the natural lens with an intraocular lens implant, or IOL, to allow you to see clearly after surgery.

At Eye Q Premium Laser, we offer a range of IOL options, from traditional IOLs to premium options. The premium IOL options include multifocal IOLs for clear sight at several distances and toric IOLs to correct astigmatism, among others.

When Should I consider Cataract Surgery?

Many Alberta patients wonder if they need cataract surgery or not. If so, when? There’s a few signs patients need to look out for.  Typically, patients will need to have surgery if their cataracts start to significantly affect their vision. If patients are having trouble driving, reading or even getting work done at the office, then it’s time to schedule a consultation with one of our Eye Q experts.

How soon after cataract surgery can I return to work?

Most people can return to work within two to four days. If your procedure required both eyes to be done at the same time, patients may consider taking 7 – 10 days off of work. We recommend our patients to speak to our eye experts to get a better idea of how much time is needed to recover. All patients can request a free face to face consultation and discuss surgery plans with a certified ophthalmologist.

How soon after cataract surgery can I drive?

Alberta patients who received cataract surgery must be cleared by our vision experts and must reach the legal Alberta driving measurement of 20/50 for or better for both eyes. Patients are encouraged to arrange transportation plans on the day of their surgery and during their recovery.

For more information about our cataract surgery procedure and other eye procedures please visit our refractive eye surgery FAQ page.

How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost in Alberta?

The cost depends on the extent of the patient’s procedure. At Eye Q, patients have multiple financing options to help pay for their surgery. Visit our financing page to see the options you have to choose from, or schedule a consultation with our doctors to learn more about the cost of your procedure.

Say Goodbye to Cloudy Vision

If you are frustrated with your clouded vision, you do not have to live with it any longer! Your optometrist or primary eye care provider can refer you to our expert Alberta cataract surgeons, Dr. Joseph Leong-Sit, Dr. Dean Mah, Dr. Jessica Ting, and Dr. Khaliq Kurji at Alberta Cataract and Cornea Consultants for a complimentary assessment. Contact our office today for more details about cataract surgery.