Cataract

A cataract is formed when the natural lens of the eye hardens and becomes cloudy. In general, cataracts are a normal part of the aging process. Over 70% of Americans aged 75 and older have cataracts. However, cataracts can also be caused by heredity, eye trauma, diabetes, certain medications and too much exposure to sunlight.

Cataracts develop slowly. Over time, a person with a cataract will begin to have blurry vision, color distortion, impaired depth perception and poor night vision. When these symptoms begin to interfere with a person’s way of life, it’s time to have the cataracts removed.

Cataract Versus Normal Vision

Drs. Volpicelli and Beers specialize in Cataract Surgery

Drs. Beers and Volpicelli are widely recognized as leaders in the field of cataract surgery. They have been teaching the latest surgical techniques for performing cataract surgery to ophthalmology residents at Stanford University for over a decade. They have performed over 5,000 cataract surgeries with excellent results; 99% of cataract surgeries result in vision improvement.

Rather than operating in a cold hospital environment, Drs. Volpicelli and Beers perform cataract surgery in their own Peninsula Eye Surgery Center, conveniently located across the street from their main office. Newly opened in 2005, the surgery center is comfortable, well-equipped and expertly staffed. Last year, more cataract surgeries were performed there than at any other outpatient eye surgery center in Northern California.

At the surgery center, Drs. Beers and Volpicelli use the latest techniques in Cataract surgery. They are able to implant a Crystalens®, which is the only FDA approved intraocular lens that uses the natural focusing ability of the eye. More than twice the number of patients implanted with a Crystalens® could see at all distances compared to a standard IOL.

The Procedure

The Crystalens cataract procedure takes approximately 20 minutes. Drs. Beers or Volpicelli will carefully place numbing drops in your eye, remove the cloudy lens using an ultrasonic probe, and replace your old lens with a crystalens® implant. Once surgery is complete, the doctors will place additional drops in your eye to decrease inflammation and prevent infection. The small incision heals quickly. Because no sutures and needed, most patients can resume normal activities within a few days.

For more information cataracts, please read our Cataract FAQs.