Cataracts Explained,Laser Cataract Surgery,ORA-Guided Cataract Surgery,Premium Intraocular Lenses
If cataracts are affecting both of your eyes — which is a common experience for cataract patients — you may be hoping to have both treated at once, especially if you’re someone with a busy schedule or travel constraints. While convenience is certainly a consideration, the priority with cataract surgery is on your eye health, healing, and safety. At BVA Advanced Eye Care in Oklahoma City, our experienced team takes a thoughtful approach to each cataract treatment plan, helping patients understand when same-day cataract surgery on both eyes is appropriate and when it’s better to treat each eye separately. Here, you’ll learn more about why cataracts are treated separately in the majority of cases and answers to other popular cataract surgery FAQ.
Why is cataract surgery done on each eye individually?
Even though cataracts can develop in both eyes around the same time, most patients undergo surgery on one eye at a time. That’s not because it’s unsafe to treat both per se. Primarily, cataracts are removed one eye at a time because your vision, healing process, and outcome can all be better supported with some time between surgeries. This allows our team time to ensure that the first eye heals well and that any adjustments needed for the second eye — such as fine-tuning the type of intraocular lens (IOL) — can be made based on how vision responds. This two-step cataract surgery approach also gives your brain time to adapt to the new visual input, which can be especially helpful if you’re transitioning from glasses or choosing advanced lens technology.
How long do you have to wait between cataract surgeries?
For most patients, the second eye is treated within a few weeks of the first cataract surgery. This gives the first eye time to heal while minimizing the inconvenience of having one eye with improved vision and one with a cataract. Your cataract surgery timeline may vary based on how your first eye responds to surgery, your overall health, and your comfort level. Some patients prefer to wait longer between eyes, particularly if their second eye isn’t as affected. Others want to move forward quickly to restore balanced vision. Again, we’ll work with you to find the right timing for cataract surgery based on your goals and daily needs.
Do they ever do cataract surgery on both eyes at the same time?
In certain cases, same-day cataract surgery on both eyes (more formally referred to as simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery) may be considered. Some reasons for bilateral cataract surgery may include:
- Both eyes are severely impacted by cataracts
- You have limited access to care or travel difficulties
- Your general health makes two surgeries riskier than one
Even in these cases, safety is the top priority. Each eye is treated as a separate procedure, and our surgeons will carefully weigh the benefits and risks. Most people are still better served by the traditional two-step cataract surgery approach, but the decision is made together, based on what’s safest and most effective for you.
How does the type of IOL used in cataract surgery impact the timeline?
Some advanced lenses, like the Light Adjustable Lens™, offer custom refinements after surgery to further optimize your vision. In those cases, we may recommend spacing your surgeries out a bit more to complete adjustments in one eye before proceeding with the second. This strategy can help ensure a more precise outcome, especially if you’re targeting glasses-free vision or have unique vision needs. No matter which kind of IOL you choose —whether it’s Clareon® Vivity®, Clareon® PanOptix®, TECNIS Odyssey™, or a monofocal option and whether you undergo laser cataract surgery or ORA-guided cataract surgery — your customized surgical plan will be built around your personal lifestyle and preferences with safety, health, and clearer vision top of mind.
See the world through a new lens with advanced laser cataract surgery in Oklahoma City, OK
If cataracts are clouding your vision and making the world look — and feel — more dull than you’d like, cataract surgery can help. To learn more about your options for cataract premium IOLs, timing for cataract treatment, and more, contact us at BVA Advanced Eye Care to schedule a consultation with one of our Oklahoma City cataract surgeons today.