CATARACT SURGERY

If you have a cataract, you've come to the right place.  Our practice specializes in diagnosing and treating cataracts.  Dr. Chu has been practicing in Rockville for 19 years, and he has operated on thousands of area residents, many coming from other countries just to have their surgery with Dr. Chu.  Dr. Chu has extensive experience in the state of the art techniques in cataract surgery, and we will be one of the first surgeons in the area to offer bladeless cataract removal using the LenSx laser.  Please continue reading to find out more about cataracts and how they are treated.

Understanding How Vision Changes
Many things change as time passes.  Vision is one of them.  The aging process affects clarity and quality of vision, which may affect your ability to drive at night.  Two primary causes of vision loss with age are cataracts and presbyopia.

Cataracts
Cataracts affect most people over the age of 65 and some younger people as well.  This condition occurs as the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy.  This clouding scatters the light passing through the eye, resulting in hazy and blurred vision.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is usually caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, the clear dome of the eye.  Normally, the cornea has a spherical surface, similar to a ball.  Astigmatism occurs when the corneal surface becomes irregular, like the surface of a football.  This causes light to focus irregularly in the eye, leading to blurred vision. 

Presbyopia
Presbyopia – the loss of near reading vision is a condition that affects everyone over the age of 45.  Presbyopia occurs when the natural lens of the eye becomes firmer and less flexible.  This reduces the eye’s ability to switch from seeing objects at a distance (for driving) to seeing objects that are near (for reading.)

Advances in Cataract Surgery
With approximately three million procedures performed each year in the U.S., cataract surgery is the most common surgical eye procedure.  It has a proven track record for restoring vision.  The standard surgical treatment for cataracts is to remove the cloudy crystalline lens (cataract) and replace it with an intraocular lens implant to restore vision.  With new LenSx laser technology, no blades will be used to remove the cataract.  Click here to learn more about bladeless cataract surgery.

Once a cataract is removed, conventional lens implantation still leaves many people dependant on glasses in their daily lives.  Now new lens technologies allow us to do more.  Today, presbyopia can be treated at the same time as cataracts with new technology lens implants.

The Opportunity to Reduce Your Dependence on Glasses in Everyday Life.

Today, you have lens implant options that can provide the vision to do everyday tasks without depending on glasses.   This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reduce or eliminate your lifelong dependence on glasses and start enjoying everyday activities that you would normally need glasses for, such as watching TV, reading magazines or newpaper, sewing, cooking, dialing a telephone or using a computer.  Modern implants have been used to treat millions of people, and provide good vision after cataract surgery.  Dr. Chu will explain these options if they are right for you.

Are You a Candidate for Presbyopic Lens Implant?

Dr. Chu will help you understand if the ReSTOR lens implant is an option that is right for your lifestyle and eye health.  You may be a candidate if you:

• Require treatment for cataracts
• Want to be independent of glasses in most situations, including reading, using a computer, cooking and driving.

If You Have Cataracts and Astimatism, the Toric Lens Implant May Your Best Option

The TORIC lens implant may be your best option if you have significant astigmatism and wish to be less dependent on glasses after cataract surgery.  Unlike the ReSTOR MULTIFOCAL implant, a TORIC implant will not correct both distance and near vision.  There is an additional fee for this implant that health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover.

Our Goal is to Provide the Right Cataract Treatment for your Individual Lifestyle and Eye Health.

Insurance Coverage for Cataract With Lens Implantation
Most insurance companies cover the cost of cataract surgery with conventional lens implantation.

Presbyopic and Toric Lens Implanation
The cost of upgrading to these improved lens implants is not covered by health insurance, including Medicare, so there is an out-of-pocket charge for these lenses.

Payment Options for a Presbyopic and Toric Lens Implant
Our staff will explain your financial responsibilities in detail. 

Payment in Full
Payment in full is accepted via cash, check or credit card before treatment.  For your convenience, we accept major forms of credit card.  You also have the option of financing your out of pocket cataract surgery costs by using CareCredit financing.