Cataract Surgery... Today's Modern Procedure

By Jeffrey Martin MD

Published on April 01, 2010

Cataract surgery today has come a long way since Dr. Sidney Martin was first performing cataract surgery at our Long Island, New York practice in 1962. There were week-long hospital stays, no intraocular implants, and results were mixed at best.

Dr. Jeffrey Martin, his son, looks back with a historical perspective. Today, we are able to complete with entire cataract surgery in about 10 minutes on average. Through a microscopic incision, we use gentle computer controlled ultrasound to remove the cloudy or defective lens of the eye. We then place an intraocular lens implant to restore vision. We often use premium implants like the accommodating lens, Crystalens or multifocal lenses, ReSTOR, ReZoom, and TECNIS multifocal. The amazing thing about these lenses is that they do not only give you distance vision, they also allow our patients to see near objects without glasses. Many of our patients do not need glasses for any activities after undergoing cataract surgery with premium IOLs. We are also able to remove astigmatism with the AcrySof Toric implant that is designed for that purpose. Even ten years ago, we were only able to give patients distance vision following cataract surgery with standard implants. The revolution in cataract surgery has been dramatic and amazing to watch.

In modern cataract surgery, we do not routinely use stitches or needles around the eyes. We give our Long Island cataract surgery patients IV sedation and eye drops to numb the surface of the eye. We do not use eye patches following surgery. That way, our patients can begin their important postoperative eye drops and see clearly the very same day.

Dr. Sidney Martin still practices in Smithtown, New York part-time at 80 years of age with his son Jeffrey. They often speak about the progress of ophthalmic surgery and medicine in general. It has been a wild and exciting ride.