Laser Cataract Surgery to Debut in Tupelo

TUPELO, Mississippi—Tupelo Eye Center and North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center, LLC are the first to bring laser cataract surgery to north Mississippi.

According to ophthalmologist Ashley Pickering, M.D., of Tupelo Eye Center, laser cataract surgery is gentle, accurate and precise. In the outpatient procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) and breaks up the cataract to remove it. Then a new clear prosthetic lens implant is placed into the eye to restore vision.

“The laser allows cataract surgery to be bladeless,” Dr. Pickering says. “Use of the laser can improve a person’s visual outcome and speed healing.” Low levels of astigmatism can be corrected during the procedure as well.

Cataracts occur when proteins in the eye’s natural lens start to break down, causing the lens to become cloudy and impair vision. Most people 65 and older have cataracts. In addition to aging, risk factors include diabetes, smoking, use of steroid medications and sun exposure.

Vision decline from cataracts is gradual and characterized by blurry vision, trouble seeing well at night, difficulty with driving, glare, needing more light to read and seeing bright colors as faded or yellow.

Cataract surgery is not routinely performed on both eyes the same day. Typically, the procedures are done a few weeks apart.

To learn more about the procedure or for a consultation appointment, call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).