- CATARACT CARE
Cataract surgery in Johnson City
Cataracts can start with subtle loss of color vibrancy and contrast sensitivity, or they can cause blurring of vision. Cataract surgery is performed when your quality of vision affects your quality of life - and Dr. Donny Reeves will help you make that decision.
SURGERY TIME
About 10 minutes
AT THE FACILITY
90 minutes or longer
SETTING
Outpatient surgery center
LENSES
Monofocal, toric, multifocal, LAL
— IS IT TIME?
When should you consider cataract surgery?
Left untreated, cataracts can develop further, becoming more severe and leading ultimately to significantly impaired vision, which can make it difficult to perform daily activities safely or comfortably.
Early detection through an exam in our Johnson City clinic by expert surgeon Dr. Reeves can determine the presence and extent of a cataract. When symptoms first appear, your doctor may be able to temporarily alleviate the effects of cataracts and improve your vision by prescribing glasses, strong bifocals, or other visual aids. However, cataracts may continue to advance, leaving surgery as the only option to restore your good vision.
When you are unable to enjoy daily routine activities such as working, driving, reading, or hobbies because of cataracts, you should consider cataract surgery.
- WHAT ARE CATARACTS?
Understanding cataracts.
A cataract is the hardening or opacification of the eye’s natural crystalline lens, causing vision problems. Vision with cataracts is often cloudy, colors become dull, and driving at night is very difficult.
Cataract development is typically related to aging, and cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have some degree of cataract or have already undergone cataract surgery in one or both eyes. By age 95, this percentage increases to almost 100%. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes; individuals with a cataract in one eye usually go on to develop a cataract in the other eye as well.
Types of cataracts
- Nuclear - forms in the center of the lens and is the most common age-related type.
- Cortical - begins at the edges of the lens and works toward the center.
- Posterior subcapsular - forms at the back of the lens and can affect reading and night vision sooner.
— SYMPTOMS
What are the
symptoms of
cataracts?
Cataracts develop slowly, so changes can be easy to miss. Talk to us if you notice any of these:
Cloudy or blurry vision
Vision looks foggy or filmy, like looking through a frosted window.
Trouble seeing at night
Night driving becomes harder and dim rooms feel darker.
Light and glare sensitivity
Sunlight, lamps or headlights feel too bright.
Seeing "halos" around lights
Rings appear around light sources, especially at night.
Fading or yellowing of colors
Colors look dull, faded or yellowed.
Double vision
You may see double in one eye.
- BEFORE SURGERY
Preparing for
cataract surgery.
Once you and your eye doctor have decided that you will have the cataract removed, the eye surgeon will examine you. For the immediate time period before and after cataract surgery, ask your surgeon if you should continue your usual medications and nutritional supplements.
Important: as an example, a common drug that treats men with enlarged prostates - Flomax and similar medications known as alpha-blockers - could cause problems associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery. Patients on Flomax or similar medications should notify their eye surgeon before undergoing cataract surgery.
You may be given a choice of implantation with a regular single-vision (monofocal) intraocular lens or a presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens for replacement of your eye's natural lens. Determining the right IOL for you can be based on many factors, including your lifestyle and ability to pay. If you are interested in correcting presbyopia, which all people have beginning at around age 40, you potentially could restore your ability to see at all
— LENS OPTIONS
Choosing the right lens for your life.
You may be given a choice of a regular single-vision (monofocal) intraocular lens or a presbyopia-correcting lens. Determining the right IOL can be based on many factors, including your lifestyle and budget. Extra costs do occur with "premium" IOLs, even though they may reduce or eliminate dependency on eyeglasses.
Standard monofocal
Focuses at one distance (usually far). You'll likely still need glasses for reading.
Multifocal accommodating
Restores vision at near, intermediate and far distances to reduce dependence on glasses.
Light Adjustable Lens
The only IOL that can be fine-tuned after surgery to your exact preferences.
- SURGERY DAY
What happens during cataract surgery?
01Before and on arrival
Cataract surgery usually is done on an outpatient basis. You may be asked to skip breakfast and avoid drinking liquids, depending on the time of your surgery. Also, do not wear eye makeup on the day of surgery. Upon arrival at the facility, you will be given eye drops to dilate your pupils and perhaps a sedative to help you relax. A local or topical anesthetic will make the operation painless.
02Preparation
The skin around your eye will be thoroughly cleansed, and sterile coverings will be placed around your eye and head.
03Removing the cataract
Under an operating microscope, at least one small incision is made into the eye. (Some surgeons use lasers to make incisions and soften the cataract). This procedure can be performed using an ultrasound-driven instrument that "sonically" breaks up the cataract (phacoemulsification) as it is suctioned (aspirated) out of the eye. In another surgical method, special instruments are used to mechanically break up the cloudy lens into small pieces (phacofracture) and remove them directly from the eye through a small incision. At Reeves, the LenSx® laser can also perform the most critical steps.
04Your new lens
The surgeon will insert a plastic or silicone IOL inside the eye to replace the natural lens that was removed. Most incisions used for cataract surgery are self-sealing. However, on occasion, incisions may need to be sutured. When stitches are used, they rarely need to be removed.
05Going home
Although the basic postoperative instructions are similar among most eye surgeons, each surgeon may have specific recovery instructions depending on the outcome of your surgery. Always follow your surgeon's specific instructions, which you will receive prior to your discharge from the outpatient facility.
- RESULTS
What results
should I expect
from cataract
surgery?
A comprehensive study reported in Archives of Ophthalmology in 1994 noted that 95.5 percent of healthy eyes achieved 20/40 uncorrected vision (legally acceptable for driving) or better outcomes following cataract surgery.* Of the more than 17,000 eyes evaluated, fewer than 2 percent had sight-threatening complications.
Bruising or a black eye can result from cataract surgery if an injection is used to numb the eye.
Remember that sight-threatening complications often are associated with individuals who are much older or who already have poor underlying health affecting how their eyes heal. Also, some people have complications because their cataracts are far more advanced or "hardened" at the time of surgery, making them difficult to remove.
A Swedish study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in November 1998 found that self-reported outcomes among people who had undergone cataract surgery were less satisfactory when other eye problems were present. Younger people undergoing cataract surgery reported the highest satisfaction levels.
The British journal also reported study results in December 2000 indicating that people in their 60s undergoing cataract surgery were 4.6 percent more likely to achieve 20/40 uncorrected vision or better than people in their 80s.
- PATIENT STORIES
What our patients say.
★★★★★
“You gave me the gift of sight, what a wonderful thing to be able to give to another person. I am full of gratitude to you. [Paste the full testimonial from the live Testimonials page.]”
M. HARRIS · CATARACT
★★★★★
“I have been wearing glasses for 35 years, I was referred to Dr. Reeves for cataract surgery. He explained everything to me before surgery and left nothing out. I no longer wear glasses, and would recommend Dr. Reeves with no question.”
CATARACT PATIENT · CATARACT
★★★★★
“In December 2011, I was told by an area optometrist that I had fast-growing cataracts... He took the time to sit, unhurriedly, and discuss all options with us. Dr. Reeves then told us to think it over and decide how we wanted to proceed. I found his advertised "free consultation" to be exactly that.”
J. FORD · CATARACT
— CATARACT FAQS
Cataract questions, answered.
Have another question? Call 423.722.1311 or text 423.295.8078
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.
How long does cataract surgery take?
The actual surgical procedure typically takes only about 10 to 15 minutes per eye, though you should expect to spend around 90 minutes to two hours at the surgery center for preparation and recovery.
Will I be awake? Does it hurt?
You remain awake during the procedure, but your eye is completely numbed with anesthetic eye drops, and a mild sedative is provided to help you relax. Most patients experience zero pain and only mild pressure.
Does insurance or Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Yes, Medicare and most private health insurance plans cover standard cataract surgery with monofocal lenses. Advanced premium lenses or specialized laser-assisted procedures may have out-of-pocket costs.
What is the difference between standard and premium lenses?
Standard monofocal lenses restore clear vision at a single focal point (usually distance), meaning reading glasses are typically still needed. Premium multifocal, accommodating, or toric lenses can correct astigmatism and provide a broader range of vision without glasses.
Can both eyes be done on the same day?
Cataract surgery is typically performed on one eye at a time, spaced one to two weeks apart to allow the first eye time to heal and ensure optimal visual outcomes.
Can a cataract come back?
No, a cataract cannot return because your natural clouded lens has been removed. However, the membrane holding the lens can sometimes become cloudy over time, which is quickly and painlessly cleared with an in-office YAG laser procedure.
Do I need to stop any medications?
Some medications, particularly blood thinners or alpha-blockers like Flomax, may need special review prior to surgery. Be sure to provide our team with a complete list of your current prescriptions during your consultation.
- YOUR CATARACT SURGEON
Donny Reeves, M.D.
Dr. Donny Reeves specializes in cataract and intraocular lens microsurgery, including topical anesthesia, no-stitch cataract surgery, LenSx® laser-assisted surgery and premium lens implants such as PanOptix® Pro, Odyssey™ and the Light Adjustable Lens.
- CONTINUE YOUR RESEARCH
- A SIMPLE NEXT STEP
Let's make sense of what you are seeing.
Call 423.722.1311, text 423.295.8078, or request an appointment online.
Our brand promise is to provide individualized eye care services with compassion, serenity and attention to detail.
JOHNSON CITY
2328 Knob Creek Road, Suite 506
Johnson City, TN 37604
P: 423.722.7311 | F: 423.926.0529
Mon-Thu: 7:30-4:30 · Fri: 8-2
REEVES EYE SURGERY CENTER
2328 Knob Creek Road, Suite 500
Johnson City, TN 37604
P: 423.722.7311 | F: 423.926.0529
Surgery by scheduled appointment
KINGSPORT
444 Clinchfield Street, Suite 104
Kingsport, TN 37660
P: 423.722.7311 | F: 423.926.0529
Mon-Thu: 8-4:30 · Fri: 8-2
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