September is designated as Healthy Aging Month to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss.

Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide and of vision loss in the United States.

In the winter of 2023, Lissette Gonzalez became one of an estimated 20.5 million Americans aged 40 years and older who have cataracts in one or both eyes.

Gonzalez, 50, noticed her vision in her right eye was slightly blurry. The Hudson County, New Jersey, woman made an appointment with ophthalmologist Hardik Parikh, MD, FAAO, at Palisade Eye Associates for a comprehensive eye exam.

“She came to me with a vision problem in her right eye,” Dr. Parikh said. “She wasn’t seeing clearly for the last few months. She was having a harder time working at her computer, tending to have to refocus constantly. Her vision at nighttime was also impacted. She was having a lot more glare than she was normally accustomed to.”

Dr. Parikh diagnosed Gonzalez with a posterior subcapsular cataract. This fast-developing cataract starts in the backmost part of the lens in the eye and blocks the center part of your vision where the light passes through.

A patient has two options when diagnosed with a cataract. They can wait and adjust their glasses or contacts or have cataract removal surgery. If not treated, cataracts may impair or cause complete loss of eyesight.

“I would definitely recommend the procedure,” Dr. Parikh said. “Cataract surgery overall is one of the safest procedures that we have in all of ophthalmology.”

Gonzalez determined her slightly blurry vision was manageable at that time and delayed cataract surgery. About 14 months after her initial diagnosis, Dr. Parikh said Gonzalez was experiencing light perception vision because of the fast-developing cataract.

“Even if we took a hand and waved it in front of her eye, going back and forth, she wouldn’t know that the hand was there,” he explained.

ASC Provides High-quality Outpatient Cataract Surgery

Gonzalez underwent cataract surgery on June 13 at River Drive Surgery and Laser Center in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, an AMSURG-affiliated ambulatory surgery center (ASC).

“River Drive Surgery and Laser Center is unique in that this center does only eye surgery,” Dr. Parikh said. “And so, every single person there — from the moment you enter the door to the nurse who’s discharging you and giving you your post-OP care instructions — is very familiar with eye surgery and knows exactly how to address questions and knows exactly what the patient’s concerns are.”

During cataract surgery, a doctor replaces the cloudy lens of a patient’s eye with an artificial lens. This intraocular lens (IOL) is a clear, plastic lens that becomes a permanent part of the eye.

Gonzalez selected a monofocal IOL, which helps with distance vision. With these lenses, you may still need glasses for reading or if you have astigmatism. Medicare and other insurance plans usually cover these IOLs.

Cataract surgery generally takes 15-20 minutes. The patient is usually at the ASC for about two hours.

“River Drive is an amazing place to operate, and the experience that it creates for patients is unparalleled,” Dr. Parikh said.

Gonzalez opted to undergo femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. In this procedure, Dr. Parikh designed a specific surgical plan with a 3-D image of her eye, called optical coherence tomography (OCT).

“This is a computer-guided laser that helps with certain parts of the surgery,” Dr. Parikh said. “We’re using technology to better augment a surgeon’s hands, making tasks easier, more efficient, more predictable and more standardized. It also corrects low levels of astigmatism. Anything that really helps with the patient’s outcome at the end of the day is a win for us.”

Patient Praises ASC, Physician for Care

Today, Gonzalez said her vision is better than ever. Her right eye is 20/20.

“Laser-related surgery is really putting yourself in the hands of professionals that can deliver results,” she said. “I walked out of there being able to see again. I had my sight back.”

Gonzalez has new prescription glasses to accommodate her left eye, which also has a small cataract. She plans to return to River Drive Surgery and Laser Center when it’s time for cataract removal.

“The moment I see fuzziness, I’m not waiting,” she said. “I know I’ll be going there for the other eye. And I know that I’ll be in good hands.”

Dr. Parikh said ASCs offer high-quality outpatient medical procedures for his patients.

“Being at an ambulatory surgical center is such an efficient process, not only for the healthcare system but also for patients in terms of minimizing how much time they spend both in the operating room and the facility,” he said.

Prioritizing her eye care and cataract surgery at an ASC restored Gonzalez’s vision and quality of life.

“My only regret was not doing it sooner,” she said.

Partner with AMSURG

AMSURG surgery centers provide world-class care for patients every day, making us a leader in the ASC industry, performing more than 200,000 ophthalmology procedures annually.

Physicians can greatly benefit from a surgery center partnership with national reach and perspective. AMSURG, along with its extensive network of more than 2,400 physician partners across approximately 250 facilities, enables independent physicians to realize their personal and professional goals through innovative management, clinical support and strategic services.

Click here to learn how AMSURG is investing in the growth and development of physician partners and find a clear path to grow your skills and enhance your career today.

About AMSURG

AMSURG is an independent leader in ambulatory surgery center services, operating a network of approximately 250 surgery centers nationwide. In partnership with physicians and health systems, the organization delivers high-quality patient care across a diverse spectrum of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. With a focus on strategic growth and innovation, AMSURG is committed to transforming the future of ambulatory surgery center care and services. To learn more about AMSURG, visit www.amsurg.com.