At a glance

Do you need cataract surgery?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It develops slowly with age and can make vision blurry or hazy, cause glare and halos around lights (especially when driving at night), fade colors, and make reading harder. Eye drops and stronger glasses can’t remove a cataract. Surgery is the treatment, and most people consider it when cataracts start to interfere with daily life, such as driving, reading, or work. Learn More About Cataracts and when to have surgery. 

What is laser cataract surgery?

In cataract surgery, your surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL). In laser cataract surgery, also called femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, a computer-guided laser performs some of the most delicate steps:

1. The circular opening in the lens capsule (called a capsulotomy or capsulorhexis). The laser creates it to a planned size and position.
2. Softening and dividing the cataract into smaller pieces so it can be removed with less ultrasound energy.
3. Corneal incisions, when planned, including precise incisions that relax astigmatism. (Some incisions are still made with a traditional blade.)

After the laser, Dr. Jones removes the fragments with an ultrasound handpiece (phacoemulsification), then places your new lens implant through a small incision. No stitches are typically needed.

Laser vs. traditional cataract surgery

Is the laser better? Both approaches have excellent results. Large clinical studies, including the FEMCAT trial published in The Lancet in 2020, found that laser-assisted surgery was not better than standard ultrasound surgery for the average patient, and standard cataract surgery by an experienced surgeon is very successful. Where the laser adds value is precision, which can matter most if you have astigmatism or want a toric, extended depth of focus, or multifocal lens. Dr. Jones will tell you honestly which approach he recommends for your eyes.

Our technology

• LENSAR Ally® Laser System. Uses advanced 3D imaging of your eye to plan and guide each laser step. Learn more about LENSAR Ally®
• ORA System®. During surgery, this device re-measures your eye to double-check the power of your lens implant before it’s placed, supporting accuracy for your final vision.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT). At your exam, we may use OCT to take detailed 3D images of the back of your eye and look for conditions, such as macular disease, that can affect your results.

Your lens options

The lens implant you choose helps determine how much you’ll rely on glasses afterward. We review these with you in detail, and we match the lens to your eyes and your lifestyle.

Compare lens options in detail

Are you a candidate?

Most people with cataracts can have laser-assisted surgery. Your exam, measurements, and imaging show whether the laser is a good fit for your eyes and your lens goals. If your pupils do not dilate well or you have corneal scarring, you may not be a good candidate for laser cataract surgery. Other eye conditions, such as glaucoma or macular disease, can affect your options, and we’ll discuss them at your visit.

Your surgery, step by step

1. Consultation and measurements

You’ll see Dr. Jones or Dr. Triana for a complete eye exam. We may use OCT to scan the back of your eye. Our technicians take precise measurements of your eye, which are used to calculate your lens power and plan the laser steps. Together, you choose the lens that fits your needs. Dr. Jones performs all laser cataract surgery for the practice.

2. Preparing for surgery

• Start your surgery drops 3 days before your procedure.
• Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home. The surgery center does not allow patients to leave with a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.
• Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before surgery. We review the fasting rules at your measurements appointment.
• Shower before you arrive, don’t wear jewelry or makeup, and wear clean, comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

3. The day of surgery

You’ll check in at the American Surgery Center of South Texas and make any calculated payments before surgery. In the pre-operative area, you’ll receive dilating drops in the surgical eye and an IV, which is used to give you medicine to keep you relaxed and comfortable. The laser is set up using your plan, and Dr. Jones uses it to create the capsule opening, soften and divide the cataract, and make any planned incisions to relax astigmatism. He then removes the cataract with ultrasound, checks your lens power with the ORA System®, and places your new lens. No stitches are typically needed. You’ll rest briefly in the recovery area with a nurse before going home.

4. After surgery

• Use your antibiotic drop as directed to prevent infection, and your anti-inflammatory drops as directed to reduce inflammation.
• Wear an eye shield when sleeping for the first week.
• Don’t rub or press on your eye, and avoid bending, lifting, and straining at first.
• Rest your eyes and take it easy; most patients are back to normal activities within a few days to a week.
• Your first visit is the day after surgery, with another about a week later and ongoing check-ups. At the first visit, you’ll receive instructions for caring for your eye at home.

Risks and safety

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest operations performed, but, like any surgery, it has risks. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these include pain, infection, bleeding, glare, halos, inflammation, retinal detachment, loss of vision, and, in very rare cases, loss of the eye. You may also still need glasses or contact lenses for the best vision. Serious complications are exceedingly rare, while problems like increased eye pressure or corneal swelling occur more commonly. Please talk through your personal risks with your surgeon.

Call us right away if you notice increasing pain, a sudden drop in vision, a shower of new floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain or shadow over your vision.

Cost, insurance, and financing

• Insurance. Many plans, including Medicare, cover standard cataract surgery. They may not cover the laser, astigmatism correction, or premium lenses. See the insurance plans we accept
• What affects your cost. Whether you choose the laser, whether you need astigmatism correction, and the type of lens implant.
• Before surgery. We review your costs with you, and calculated payments are due before your procedure.
• Financing. We offer CareCredit so you can finance your procedure over time. Apply online
• Costs. Laser Cataract Surgery costs are as low as $2,500 per eye – premium IOLs add to this base cost.

If your vision blurs again later

Months or years after cataract surgery, a thin film can form behind your lens implant and make your vision hazy. It’s common, it doesn’t mean your surgery failed, and it’s treated with a quick, painless in-office laser procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy.

Why choose San Antonio Eye & Face Institute

• Physician-owned. You’re cared for directly by your doctors, with continuity from your first exam to your last follow-up.
• One cataract surgeon. Dr. Relief Jones, III is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, completed a glaucoma fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, and performs all of our laser cataract surgery. He’s performed thousands of cataract surgeries over the last 2+ decades.
  Read Dr. Jones’s bio

• Technology that supports accuracy. The LensAR® laser, and ORA System® lens-power verification.
• A full range of lens options, matched to your eyes and goals.
• Insurance, Medicare, and financing help, so you understand your costs before surgery.

Organic Google Review from Jane A.: 
“My husband and I both highly recommend San Antonio Eye & Face Institute with Dr. Jones and Dr. Triana. They have been our doctors for many years. My husband had cataract surgery several years ago, and I just recently had cataract surgery. Dr. Jones is an incredible surgeon. Both Dr. Jones and Dr. Triana are professional, friendly and show great care for their patients. They never make you feel rushed and take the time to answer any questions you may have. They have an amazing staff who always greets you with a smile. It does not matter if you are calling for an appointment, are there for an eye test or scheduling a surgery, they are so friendly and attentive to your needs. They are the best!”

Call (210) 485-1488 for an Appointment