Refractive Cataract Surgery in Kansas City

Refractive cataract surgery in Kansas City is an advanced procedure that goes above and beyond standard cataract surgery to not only remove the cataract, but to also correct common vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If your goal is to achieve the best possible vision without a dependency on readers or bifocals following surgery, schedule a refractive cataract consultation to learn more about these advanced options.

Who is a Candidate for
Refractive Cataract Surgery?

Refractive cataract surgery in Kansas City is recommended when your vision begins to affect your quality of life or interfere with your ability to perform daily activities. Some signs of a cataract include:

Clouded, blurred, or dim vision
Increasing difficulty with vision at night

Fading or yellowing of colors
Double vision in a single eye
Sensitivity to light and glare
Halos around lights
Difficulty reading in dim light
Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions

Refractive Cataract Surgery vs.
Traditional Cataract Surgery

Refractive Cataract Surgery:

Multifocal, Extended Depth-of-Focus, and Toric IOLs available
Real-time IOL power calculation with ORA used during cataract surgery to optimize vision correction
Corneal laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK) to optimize visual outcome if needed post-operatively
Vision restored at near, intermediate, and far distances to eliminate the need for readers or bifocals post-operatively

Traditional Cataract Surgery:

Only standard, monofocal intraocular lens available
Does not correct common refractive errors – nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia
Readers or bifocals prescribed for distance and near vision following surgery

Treatment Process

Refractive Cataract Surgery in Kansas City is an outpatient experience. The procedure is done one eye at a time, typically at least one week apart.

On the day of surgery, patients can expect to be in our office for 90 minutes though the procedure itself takes only 10-15 minutes.

Step 1
Before the surgery
Before treatment topical or local anesthesia is used with a mild sedative to prepare you for surgery.
Step 2
Prep the Eye
A small self-sealing incision is made in the eye.
Step 3
Remove the natural lens
Using ultrasound, the natural lens is broken up into minute particles and then removed.
Step 4
Place the new lens
The new intraocular lens is inserted and securely positioned inside the eye.

Refractive Cataract
Surgery Recovery

One day after the procedure, most patients can resume normal daily tasks along with a few restrictions to protect the eye. As with any eye surgery, there is a healing period that must be completed for visual stabilization. You will be using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops for a few weeks following surgery.

Standard post-op visits are 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year. Patients are required to have a driver take them home after the surgery and drive them to their 1 day post-op visit. Patients can usually return to work after the first post-op visit.

3 Reasons to Choose a Refractive Surgeon to Perform Your Cataract Surgery

Technology
A refractive surgeon is familiar with all the treatment options available today – from the latest advancements in IOLs to laser vision correction post-cataract surgery to optimize vision.
Surgeon Expertise
Refractive Cataract Surgery in Kansas City is a sub-specialty of ophthalmology. This narrow field of focus enables our doctors to refine techniques and provide the highest level of patient care.
Outcomes
Our surgeons are committed to delivering exceptional outcomes and helping each patient achieve their desired visual goals. If excellent vision without bifocals following cataract surgery is your goal, a refractive surgeon is best suited to meet your needs.

Is Refractive Cataract
Surgery right for you?

Find out through our signature
Advanced Ocular Analysis

The first and most critical step in determining candidacy for a procedure is to schedule a complimentary Advanced Ocular Analysis, or AOA.

Going above and beyond a traditional LASIK screening, the AOA sets the foundation for exceptional visual outcomes with each patient’s long-term needs in mind.

Step 1

Examine the health of your eye

When it comes to refractive surgery, a routine eye exam or LASIK screening may ignore details that are critical to your outcomes. For this reason, Durrie Vision developed the AOA. Featuring the most advanced combination of diagnostic testing available today, the AOA uses cutting-edge technologies to provide a three-dimensional visualization and analysis of the entire ocular system.

Next Step

Step 2

Meet with a refractive surgeon

During the AOA, you will meet with one of our experienced refractive surgeons directly to discuss your results along with their recommendations. This is a unique component of the experience that provides an additional level of comfort and trust.

Next Step

Step 3

Recommend a treatment plan

After your exam, we’ll share with you an in-depth analysis of your eyes, taking all the time necessary to explain what the evaluation revealed. You will leave with a comprehensive report of everything we discussed along with any recommendations for treatment, cost, financing, and recovery time.

Start Over

McKensie Dopps
“The quality of my life after LASIK is SO significant that I would’ve paid double or even triple the amount because it’s truly that incredible. Thank you, Durrie Vision for forever changing my life!!!”
Bill Self
“I had a great experience at Durrie Vision, they are first class all the way. The attention I received made me feel like I can send anyone there. It is such a difference for me from an activity and coaching standpoint not to have to worry about dealing with contacts each and every minute.”
Laura Chambers
“Durrie Vision has changed my life for the better. I have a WOW moment every day…from opening my eyes in the middle of the night and realizing I can see without my glasses, to being able to be ready for a run in 5 minutes in the morning…it’s always WOW! I am forever grateful for Dr. Stahl and his amazing staff.”
George Brett, MLB Hall of Famer
I went to have coffee with a friend before my one day post-op visit, and told him I could read the newspaper that morning without my reading glasses!
Slimfast
“Getting LASIK at Durrie Vision was one of the best things I’ve ever done. After being in glasses and contacts for most of my life, being able to see without them is amazing. In fact, I can see better than I ever did before. My biggest regret? That I put it off for so long.”
Hai Chen
“The experience and applied research expertise at Durrie Vision inspired great confidence in the process. For myself, the entire process was informative, quick, and painless with minimal recovery period required.”
Lucy Delsarto
“After Refractive Lens Exchange, my vision is incredibly sharp. Think of an HDTV vs. an older model. You often get so accustomed to what you see that you don’t realize what you are missing until you see it.”
James Bridgeford
“I don’t believe my eyes have ever gotten such great care and consideration. Durrie Vision is known worldwide, and I feel very fortunate to be in Kansas City and be treated by Dr. Lindquist and the Durrie team. I was impressed with my entire experience – top-notch care and treatment from a team of people who made me feel special every time I saw them.”

Refractive Cataract Surgery FAQs

What causes the loss of near vision?

When you are young, the natural lens acts like the zoom function in a camera, allowing you to focus up close, without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. As you age, the lens progressively becomes dysfunctional, resulting in loss of near vision (presbyopia) that requires the use of reading glasses or bifocals. With aging, the lens also progressively becomes hard, yellow, and cloudy (cataract). Cataracts block and scatter light, and they reduce visual quality, quantity, and color perception. This progressive loss of function of the natural lens inside the eye is referred to as Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome.

Does the new lens zoom?

We utilize three main categories of lenses to help you achieve distance and near vision after RLE surgery. Your surgeon will discuss these lenses with you and help you choose the best type of lens to meet your vision and lifestyle needs.

Presbyopia correcting: These lenses allow the patient to see distance and near/intermediate range in the same eye. They can be used in different combinations to increase the range of vision and reduce the need for reading glasses.

Aspheric: These are monofocal (single focus) lenses that are designed for the best quality of vision at an optimum distance for the patient. Depending on the goals of the patient, there are options regarding where the eye is targeted – distance vision only, near vision only, or blended vision (one eye set for distance; one near).

Will my eye ever reject/react against the lens?

Intraocular lenses are made of a specialized acrylic material, which is inert inside the eye. Unlike other organic materials, glass, or metal, the eye will not react against the lens. This allows the lens to remain clear, avoiding the degradation and color change occurring in the natural lens with time.

Will this procedure prevent conditions like macular degeneration?

No. Macular degeneration affects the retina in the back of the eye; whereas, like cataract surgery, Refractive Lens Exchange addresses the lens in the front of the eye. Patients should continue to schedule annual eye exams to check for naturally occurring eye problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, or detachment.

What are the restrictions post-surgery?

Patients are encouraged to relax immediately following surgery, but are free to resume normal activities as comfort allows. For the first week, you should avoid rubbing or bumping the eye as well avoid getting soap or water in your eyes while bathing or showering. Use caution with heavy lifting (greater than 25-30 lbs) and physical exertion for 1 month. Patients should also avoid hot tubs or swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean for 1 month.

Are you a candidate?

Let’s find out.

Schedule Free Consultation Take Self-Candidacy Test