What to Expect from Cataract Surgery in Shreveport, LA
At Lusk Eye Specialists, your eyes are in good hands. Cataracts may be a normal part of aging, but that doesn’t mean your cataract surgery has to feel routine. As the most experienced cataract surgery team in the Ark-La-Tex, James E. Lusk, M.D., Bryan E. Lusk, M.D., and Jeffrey D. Lusk, M.D., perform over 1,000 cataract surgeries every year. But that’s not the only reason people come from near and far to Shreveport, Louisiana for cataract surgery.
At Lusk, it’s all about creating a great experience for you, our patient. From the first discussion we have with you about your vision goals, you’ll feel like a member of the Lusk family. As a patient, you’ll see firsthand what differentiates Lusk Eye Specialists from other cataract surgery centers: surgeons that take the time to get to know you.
Learn more about what to expect before, during, and after cataract surgery at Lusk Eye Specialists below.
Cataract Surgery Pre-Operative Care
At Lusk Eye Specialists, your cataract care begins long before the day of your surgery. First, you’ll undergo an extensive examination to confirm that both you and your eyes are in optimal health to get the best results from your eye surgery.
Our goal at Lusk is to not only give you clear vision, but to reduce your dependence on corrective glasses post-surgery. When you come in for pre-operative testing, our staff will educate you on the numerous options available to cataract patients, many of which were not available just 15 years ago.
We have a variety of vision packages available, and your surgeon will discuss whether or not you would benefit from inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) to enhance your vision. We’re excited to tell you about the latest technologies available in Shreveport to improve your entire range of vision, and we’ll help you decide on the course of treatment that makes the most sense for your lifestyle.
On the Day of Your Shreveport Cataract Surgery
Cataract Surgery is performed at the Eye Surgery Center, conveniently located right next door to our Shreveport office. Dr. James Lusk spearheaded the formation of this surgical facility and has served as its medical director for the past 17 years.
On the day of your surgery, you’ll check in at the Eye Surgery Center. Upon your arrival, we’ll begin preparing you for surgery in the pre-operative area by cleaning your eyes and checking your vital signs. At this time, we’ll also update your list of current medications and any allergies. We’ll offer you a sedative to help you relax. Once we move you into the operating room, we’ll perform a second cleaning, and sterile drapes will be applied around your eye. Numbing eye drops, and IV medications as appropriate, will be used to ensure that your procedure is painless.
Everything is done through a small, “no-stitch” incision of less than one-tenth of an inch. During the procedure, your surgeon will use an ultrasonic device called a phacoemulsifier to gently dissolve and remove your cataracts. The artificial lens that you previously selected with your surgeon will be inserted in its place. Immediately following surgery, we’ll administer medications to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation. After a quick snack, you will be discharged, so you will want to have someone ready to drive you.
For optimal healing, we’ll send you home with prescription eye drops and a protective eye shield for sleeping for the first few nights.
Shreveport Cataract Surgery Technology
At Lusk Eye Specialists, we use the advanced Centurion® Vision System to perform our cataract surgeries. We use this best-in-class system’s high-powered microscope and phacoemulsification process to ensure that your cataract surgery is as safe and precise as possible.
This system is so dynamic that we can also use it to treat cases of severe glaucoma — by implanting pressure-reducing valves — during a cataract procedure.
Cataract Surgery Post-Operative Care
Every patient’s recovery is unique, but in most cases, recovery from cataract surgery is relatively short. This is especially true when your procedure is completed with the Centurion® Vision System, using a “no-stitch” incision, and is performed by a cataract surgery team as experienced as the one at Lusk Eye Specialists.
Most of our patients can resume regular activities in just a few days, seeing near-immediate improvement in their vision. Complete healing can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the patient. We’ll be here to monitor your progress along the way and keep you fully informed. Each cataract patient will be prescribed special eye drops before and after surgery. It’s important for you to take these exactly as directed. In addition, depending on the specifics of your case, we may prescribe some or all of these medications at different stages of the cataract surgery process:
- An antibiotic
- A steroid
- A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
We’re proud of our custom cataract care and strive to create the best experience for each and every patient we treat — we’d love to tell you more about the Lusk Difference. Request an appointment or call us at (318) 378-5594, to learn more about cataracts, cataract surgery at Lusk Eye Specialists, or our selection of vision packages.
