Cataracts
Top Wills Eye and Kremer Surgeon, James Lewis, MD
Dr. James S. Lewis is proud to have helped numerous Delaware Valley, Jenkintown, Abington, Northeast Philadelphia, Fort Washington, Elkins Park, Phoenixville, Conshohocken, Warminster, Montgomery County and Bucks County cataracts patients improve their vision. Dr. Lewis has compiled a superior resource for those searching for information about cataract surgery. Read more at CataractPhiladelphia.com
Top Surgeons Highlight Key Blades
October 2011 Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today
Blades From Mastel Precision
These gems represent true craftsmanship.
BY JAMES S. LEWIS, MD
If you have the luxury of having a meticulous instrument technician or a nursing staff with a great deal of respect for ophthalmic surgical tools, then no other instrument is as rewarding to own as a diamond knife from Mastel Precision (Rapid City, SD). 
Doug Mastel’s company has been catering to elite eye surgeons since the early days of RK. The Mastel name is the Aston Martin of ophthalmic diamond scalpels (Figure 1). For nearly 3 decades, the company has designed, refined, and advanced the science of diamond blades.Beginning with specialized handles and footplates and pushing the boundaries of the blade’s size, shape, and sharpness,Mastel is continually innovating and enhancing the surgical experience. Once you have used these instruments and become accustomed to their aerodynamics, consistency, and quality, you will find it very difficult to accept anything less.
Read the entire article click here
Pioneer in Toric Implants
Refractive Cataract Surgery
For those who want to limit their
dependence on glasses and contacts
following cataract surgery.
Implant and endpoint selection
in consultation with your doctor
may provide a superior experience
and a preferred visual result.
Refractive Cataract Surgery
Our mission is to provide all of our patients with the most advanced pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative technology, services, and results. We recognize that not all patients have the same visual needs, goals or expectations. Participate in planning your visual rehabilitation. Choose your strategy and get the most from this life-enriching procedure.
The distinction between cataract extraction and refractive surgery has faded. Many patients desire the benefits of both procedures.
Cataract surgery remains one of the most rewarding experiences for both doctor and patient. The procedure is medically necessary and is covered by virtually all insurance companies including Medicare. They define cataract surgery as the replacement of your cloudy natural lens with a generic intra-ocular implant. Recent advances in technology and technique allow us to achieve more.
Some patients want the benefits of cataract removal as well as the visual results we've come to expect from successful refractive surgery (LASIK). That is, patients demand a reduced dependence on glasses and contacts following their cataract surgery.
This can be accomplished with Refractive Cataract Surgery. Naturally, this requires additional measurement and testing, expanded intra-ocular implant selection, individualized refractive surgical planning and, in some cases, laser corneal reshaping.
Recently, Medicare and Other Insurers have agreed to cover the cataract portion of the procedure and permit patients to supplement the cost of these non-covered and value-added refractive services. This allows patients to achieve their goal of reduced spectacle dependence, minimized astigmatism, and enhanced distance, intermediate and near vision.
Medicare expressly forbids surgeons from offering Refractive Cataract Surgery without cost. They believe it would be an illegal inducement on the part of the cataract surgeon in order to procure government dollars.
Our practice will continue to provide the very best cataract surgical results to all patients regardless of their financial status.
Refractive Cataract Surgery is available at a reasonable cost and in compliance with Medicare
regulations and Federal Guidelines.
You can find more information
on our website: www.cataractphiladelphia.com
**Pre-operative assessment will determine eligibility.
Multifocal and Accommodative Lenses (Restor, ReZoom, Tecnis Multifocal, Crystalens)
Crystalens:
$3000 total additional cost. Crystalens includes:
additional testing, measurements,
counseling, implant selection, the IOL cost, and corneal reshaping procedures if necessary.
Dependence on spectacles will be minimized for your preferred focal distance. Astigmatism is addressed as well as any nearsightedness and/or farsightedness. If necessary, laser corneal reshaping procedures are provided at no cost.
The FDA approved Crystalens as an accommodating (focusing) intra-ocular lens. Peer-reviewed studies show superior near and intermediate vision when Crystalens patients are compared to patients who have received standard monofocal implants.
Bausch and Lomb, one of the world’s largest eye care companies markets the very popular Crystalens®. This silicone based lens is approved by the FDA as an accommodating (focusing) implant. Excellent distance and improved intermediate and near vision are achieved in most patients. Selecting Crystalens® ensures your vision will be optimized for your refractive goals. This includes minimizing astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia. This may require laser corneal reshaping postoperatively provided at no cost.
Choose CRYSTALENS if you are in a position to benefit from and have the desire for less dependence on glasses for distance vision. Most patients also achieve moderate enhancement of intermediate and near vision. Know that this implant has satisfied the FDA criteria for enhanced near vision.
*Costs include both eyes. Payment must be made one-week before your first cataract surgery. Credit cards are not accepted.
The latest generation of multifocal (non-accommodating) lenses include Alcon's ReSTOR and AMO's Tecnis Multifocal. These lenses provide a higher degree of spectacle independence than the accommodating lenses described above. Not all patients qualify for this style implant.
Choose a multifocal implant if you are in a position to benefit from and have a desire for less dependence on glasses for both distance and near vision. Know that both Restor and Tecnis have satisfied the FDA criteria for enhanced near vision. Mild dysphotopia can occur with these implants and is usually well-tolerated.
*Costs include both eyes. Payment must be made one-week before your first cataract surgery. Credit cards are not accepted.
No-Cost Premium Implant: NanoFlex
NanoFlex: no additional cost. Astigmatism is not corrected and laser corneal reshaping procedures are not included. Refractive surgery is available post-operatively at a cost of $2500.
Spectacles will be required by most patients for optimal acuity at distance, intermediate and near even if you enjoyed spectacle independence prior to cataract formation. Results will vary.
State-of-the-art cataract surgery with excellent final visual acuity at distance, intermediate and near requiring bifocal or trifocal glasses and/or contact lenses.
The nanoFLEX intraocular lens by Staar Surgical is an aspheric intraocular lens that provides superior image quality, excellent biocompatibility, and outstanding light transmission. This implant provides better intermediate and near vision than all other standard (insurance-covered) implants. Unless it is medically contraindicated we use this implant in all of our cataract patients and aim for the target refraction. If laser corneal reshaping is needed post-operatively it can be provided at an additional cost.
Choose nanoFLEX if you are comfortable wearing glasses for driving and reading. You can be assured you have received a state-of-the-art implant by a surgeon with over 25 years of cataract surgical
experience. The safety profile of nanoFLEX patients and their pre and post-operative care is equivalent to our other Refractive Cataract Surgery options.
*Costs include both eyes. Payment must be made one-week before your first cataract surgery. Credit cards are not accepted.
NanoFLEX Plus:
$1500 total additional cost. NanoFLEX PLUS includes:
additional testing, measurements, counseling, implant selection, the IOL cost (no charge), and corneal reshaping procedures if necessary.
Dependence on spectacles will be reduced for your preferred focal distance. Astigmatism is addressed as well as any nearsightedness and/or farsightedness. If necessary, laser corneal reshaping procedures are provided at no-added cost.
Most patients should expect to remove the glasses requirement from their driver’s license. The Collamer Accommodative Study Team found improved intermediate and near vision** when compared to the leading alternative monofocal intra-ocular implants.
**Results on file: STAAR Surgical Company - 1911 Walker Avenue - Monrovia, CA 91016 / USA
Frequently, patients know they want to reduce their dependence on glasses and contacts following cataract surgery. While this may occur as a result of our rigorous, thorough, computer and laser assisted intraocular lens power calculations, sometimes patients demand more. Selecting nanoFLEX PLUS ensures your vision will be optimized for your refractive goals. This includes minimizing astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia. This may require laser corneal reshaping post-operatively provided at no cost.
Choose nanoFLEX PLUS if you are in a position to benefit from and have the desire for less dependence on glasses for distance vision. Many patients also achieve moderate
enhancement of intermediate and near vision.
*Costs include both eyes. Payment must be made one-week before your first cataract surgery. Credit cards are not accepted.
Sutured Posterior Chamber Lenses
Monday and Friday Surgery Dates at Wills Eye or Kremer Eye Center
Cataract 3d Animations
requires Flash
Under construction
Our hours are:
Monday 9:00am-8:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am-4:30pm
Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-1:00pm