Restore clarity and brightness to your vision with SharpeVision MODERN LENS: the new standard in laser cataract removal surgery. Safer, gentler, and highly customizable, quite simply, this is the best technology in the world.
This is not your parents’ cataract surgery: laser-assisted cataract extraction with multifocal intra-ocular lenses make it so there are no needles, no blades, and potentially NO glasses afterward. This is the future of cataract treatment.
Laser-assisted cataract surgery is a precise treatment that’s highly customized to each patient. The method allows for little to no discomfort during surgery and a more rapid recovery. Patients will experience a gentler cataract removal versus traditional techiques, reduced inflammation, and the potential for a reduced need for glasses or contacts after surgery.
One size does not fit all. There are different options for you to choose from when it comes to your replacement lens. Dr. Barker will help you determine the best option for you based on your anatomy, expectations, and lifestyle. Cataract surgery pricing can also be confusing. We will walk you through the process and help you fully understand the costs, including what your insurance will and won’t cover, so you can make a confident, informed decision.
The only was to know for certain if you have a cataract is to have a comprehensive eye exam. Our highly-experienced doctors can detect early signs of a cataract by looking at the lens of your eye. If a cataract is impeding your vision, the only way to restore it is to remove and replace the cloudy lens. With over 100,000 successful cataract surgeries performed, our SharpeVision surgeons take cataract surgery to a new level.
Laser-assisted cataract surgery, the most exciting of the new cataract treatments, is a precise treatment that’s highly customized to each patient. The method allows for little to no discomfort during surgery and a more rapid recovery. Patients will experience gentler cataract removal, reduced inflammation, and the potential for a reduced need for glasses or contacts after surgery. It’s simply the best type of type of cataract surgery.
A cataract is diagnosed when the lens of the eye is cloudy. Much like a dirty window, a cloudy lens is difficult to see through. As cataracts progress, it becomes increasingly hard to see and do the things you enjoy. If left untreated, cataracts can result in eventual blindness. Cataract surgery quickly and painlessly replaces the cloudy lens with a new lens implant. Cataracts can affect one or both eyes and are a normal part of aging. If you live long enough, you will likely have cataracts to some degree. But factors such as smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and sun exposure can speed up the clouding of the lens of your eye.
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A comprehensive, dilated examination is the only way to know which vision-correction procedure is best for you. While your exam involves comprehensive diagnostic testing, it is also our opportunity to learn more about you, your expectations, and your lifestyle. All of these factors play an important role in recommending the best procedure for you:
The complete exam can take up to 90 minutes. After all the data is collected, our doctors will examine you, discuss the treatment recommendation, and answer any questions you have. Your visit will include dilation of your pupils, which will affect your eyesight for about 4-6 hours, as you may have experienced with a routine eye exam.
Our cataract team will discuss various lens implant options that may eliminate glasses after cataract surgery. Your doctor will also prescribe anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops that reduce swelling and the risk of infection. We’ll provide specific instructions on how to use them after surgery. Your surgery will be performed at our state-of-the-art Surgery Center or at Overlake Hospital, depending on your specific needs. When you arrive, you will be checked in and asked to sign an informed consent document. You will be taken to a room and given drops to prepare your eye for the surgery. We offer sedation with Valium in our surgery center. If you are having your surgery at Overlake, you will be given an IV with medicine that will help you relax. Most people feel sleepy during the procedure.
Because every eye varies in size and shape, advanced 3D imaging builds a 3D map of each eye and tailors the treatment to that map. This mapping technology allows your doctor to create a customized treatment plan that matches the uniqueness of each eye.
During the procedure, eye drops are used to completely numb the eye—no needles are used at all. Your surgeon then uses the laser to create a circular opening for accessing and removing the cataract. This opening is about 10 times more accurate than what is achieved by hand. The laser then softens and breaks up the hard cataract for a gentler, safer, and easier cataract removal.
After your surgery, you will spend a short period of time resting in the outpatient recovery area before you are ready to be driven home. You should expect to have blurry vision and mild soreness after the procedure, but you will be able to see your doctor the very next day at SharpeVision MODERN LENS.
Depending on your pre-operative vision and desired visual result, Dr. Barker may recommend a tailored treatment plan that could include creating ultra-precise laser incisions in the cornea and a specific clear lens type, such as a multi-focal lens. This tailored treatment may reduce your need for glasses or contacts after surgery
Could cataract surgery be right for you? There are some conditions that could exclude certain patients. Take our quick and easy candidate quiz to find out if cataract surgery could be your vision correction solution.
Dr. Barker treats patients at SharpeVision Modern LASIK & LENS Seattle-Bellevue and Chicago. He specializes in refractive surgery as well as premium cataract surgery and lens replacement. He is the lead Cataract surgeon in Seattle-Bellevue.
Meet Dr. Luke Barker
Dr. Balani is the Head of Optometry at SharpeVision Modern LASIK & LENS. She brings tremendous knowledge and energy to every patient interaction.
Meet Dr. Natasha Balani
Dr. Kim is an Optometrist in Seattle-Bellevue. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his patients from his education and experience on both coasts.
Meet Dr. Alex Kim
No, the laser can’t burn a hole in your eye. But it’s a good question! Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions at SharpeVision Modern Cataract. Some of them may surprise you!
We accept most insurance plans, and they vary by state, and sometimes year to year, so be sure to ask when you come in. Most insurance/vision plans do not pay towards LASIK or PRK, but we do honor the discount from EyeMed, VSP, and Davis, so that if you’re a member, your out of pocket expense will be the same. Always check with your insurance carrier or health benefits administrator before coming in for your exam.
Of course there are risks associated with every kind of surgery, and laser vision correction is no exception. To put it in perspective, however, the risk of laser vision correction is significantly less than the risks of wearing contact lenses. Yes, you read that correctly. The conclusion of a 2016 article from the academic journal Ophthalmology stated: “Compared with contact lens wear, current LASIK technology improved ease of night driving, did not significantly increase dry eye symptoms, and resulted in higher levels of satisfaction at 1, 2, and 3 years follow-up.” Price MO et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(8):1659-1666.
There are two types of laser vision correction surgery: LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keritomileusis, also called Custom Lasik, Wavelight, Topography-Guided, or Z-LASIK) and PRK (Photo-refractive Keratectomy, also called LASEK, Advanced Surface Ablation, or epi-LASIK) LASIK is the predominant type of laser vision correction, whereby a flap is made on the cornea, which is the clear dome of tissue overlying the iris (colored part of the eye). In this surgery, most people see well enough to drive and return to work the very next day. Your vision will continue to improve over several weeks to months, but your sight will be surprisingly good and you will be comfortable only 4-6 hours post-surgery. PRK surgery is quick and painless, just like LASIK. The recovery, however, takes longer and is more uncomfortable for the first two days. Your surgeon will place contact lenses over your eyes to protect the surface while they heal. Your vision will gradually improve over the coming weeks, but will take slightly longer than LASIK to be fully clear. The same laser is used and the end result is the same as LASIK, but PRK is better suited to some eyes for a variety of reasons. The most common reason why you would need PRK is if your cornea is too thin for LASIK. It would also be performed on someone who has had a corneal procedure in the past or for vocational reasons such as entering certain branches of the military.
