Eye Clinic of Austin’s Cataract Consultation
Your cataract consultation is an information session where we will discuss your vision issues and goals, your refractive options and what you can expect from surgery. We will review your contact lens and/or eyeglass history, run tests as needed to determine the severity of your cataract and recommend the best procedure for you.
The fee for your consultation will be billed to your insurance company; however, it may not be covered by insurance. This 2-2½ hour dilated consultation typically includes a complete review of overall eye and systemic health, plus an assessment of other eye conditions and an evaluation of the retina.
Corneal topography to measure the entire front and back surface of the cornea is performed to check for complicated cases of corneal irregularities or for astigmatism correction. Your intraocular pressures are tested, refraction (prescription) checked, and a measurement of pupil size will help determine which intraocular lens will work for you. The cornea and the lens are checked microscopically and the retina is evaluated through your dilated pupil.
Your surgeon will take some additional surgical measurements and then sit down with you to discuss the risks and benefits of the procedures as well as your goals and expectations. Once the best procedure to improve your vision has been determined, a staff member will schedule your procedure date and any additional pre-operative testing required. We will also discuss payment and financing options with you if needed, including interest-free payment plans and other payment options that are available.
IOL Counseling
Cataract surgery replaces your eye’s natural lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). If your eye is healthy, you have a choice of the type of implant used. Eye Clinic of Austin provides multiple Lifestyle lens options, including Multifocal, Accommodating and Toric lenses. The standard cataract replacement lens provides optimum vision at distances beyond ten feet or so. The new Lifestyle IOLs have advanced designs to give our patients the ability to see near and far, mostly without the use of glasses. In such cases, glasses are normally only needed for very small print or reading in areas without much light.
Each patient has unique visual requirements. The correct approach is to find the best lens implant available for each individual patient’s situation. We will be certain to provide thorough education regarding lens implant options in order to assist you in deciding which lens option best suits your circumstances.
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