Cataract Surgery

More than one million cataract surgeries are performed each year in the United States.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye. Presently, there is no way to eliminate a cataract other than surgically removing it. Cataracts are most commonly found in people age sixty and over. They are usually a result of the natural aging process of the eye. However, cataracts can also be diagnosed in much younger patients. They can be the result of previous eye injury, chronic steroid use, or they may be inherited. Excessive ultaviolet light exposure, cigarette smoking, and certain medications are also considered risk factors for cataract development. Currently, there are no proven methods of preventing cataracts.As you can see in this picture, the eye with the cataract looks very clouded, resulting in poor vision. The normal eye is clear, allowing for excellent vision.

More than 95% of patients will obtain a substantial improvement in vision after surgery. Fortunately, the chances of problems after surgery, such as infection or bleeding, are less than 1%.

The surgery is performed under a microscope. This provides Dr. Baldinger with a magnified view of the eye's interior. Dr. Baldinger performs the latest no-stitch, no-patch, clear corneal technique, under topical anesthesia, with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.  He has performed over 20,000 surgical cases and has over 25 years of experience. 

Your risk of having a surgical complication during cataract surgery by Dr. Baldinger is 75% less than the average intraoperative complication rate for the same procedure when performed in the United States. Experience does make a difference!!

In the past, patients undergoing cataract surgery needed to wear eyeglasses, bifocals or reading glasses after cataract surgery in order to see things at intermediate distances or near distances. Lens Replacement Surgery with presbyopia near vision correcting lens implants such as ReSTOR and Crystalens™ can also offer cataract patients the opportunity to be less dependent or even free of eyeglasses, readers or bifocals after cataract surgery. Cataract surgery with presbyopia correcting lens implants allows most patients the flexibility of having clear vision for far away tasks such as driving and watching television, as well as for being able to read the newspaper, medicine bottles and their mail-without depending on glasses. This flexibility provides not just a solution to eliminating glasses, but a functional convenience that allows cataract patients to conduct their daily living activities in an unencumbered manner.

Dr Baldinger has extensive experience with ALL the latest “premium” intraocular lenses including ReSTOR, , Crystalens and the Acrysoft Toric lens for astigmatism. Dr. Powers, Dr. Mattern and Dr. Baldinger will help you choose which lens is best for your eye.