Understanding Cataracts & IOLs

Welcome to the Cataract and Lens Implant Center of Slade & Baker Vision. New techniques and advanced lens technology can help many people achieve the best vision they have ever had. Dr. Slade is a pioneer in the field of refractive cataract surgery. In the past, only people with cataracts received lens replacement surgery, but now many people experience the benefit of better vision without having to wait through the gradual cloudiness of cataract formation.

What are Cataracts?

If you are having trouble with night driving, glare from headlights, golf, reading, watching TV, or any of the things you like to do, you may be experiencing the early stages of developing cataracts. The natural lens inside the eye is normally transparent and cataract is the clouding of this natural lens.


Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process. Most people will develop cataracts if they live long enough. There is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, the only way to see clearly again is to have them removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). In general, when you are bothered by your vision for your daily activities, it is time to think about cataract surgery. Cataracts will typically not damage the eye while growing, so there is no need to rush into the surgery. You can decide when the time is right for you.

Although it is surgery, the risks with modern cataract surgery are very low. You should not be anxious or afraid of the procedure. Laser Cataract Surgery has improved the precision and our outcomes as well. Thanks to Advanced IOLs and newer surgery techniques, you are less likely to need glasses after cataract surgery.

Intraocular Lens Options

IOLs are soft, foldable lenses that are inserted into the eye in order to replace the natural lens that developed the cataract. These lenses are also viable options for some patients who have not yet developed cataracts but want to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses with a procedure known as refractive lens exchange or RLE. Cataract surgery and Refractive Lens Exchange are identical procedures. The only difference is that with RLE, the lens is still mostly clear. Made of plastic or silicone materials, IOLs come with monofocal, multifocal, extended depth of focus, or accommodating optics.


Monofocal IOLs provide a single zone of clear focus and are usually implanted to provide excellent distance vision. Patients with monofocal IOLs will typically require the use of reading glasses for near vision tasks, such as reading or sewing.

Multifocal, extended depth of focus and accommodating IOLs (Advanced IOLs) are designed to provide a fuller range of vision with minimal, if any, need for glasses or contact lenses.

At Slade & Baker Vision we specialize in implantation of the most popular Advanced Technology IOLs such as the Panoptix Trifocal, AcrySof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL, AcrySof ReSTOR ActiveFocus Multifocal spherical and toric IOLs, the Tecnis Multifocal IOL, the Crystalens accommodating IOL, the Trulign Toric accommodating IOL, the Symfony extended depth of focus IOL (EDOF) and the Symfony Toric EDOF IOL.

We are also proud to share that we now offer the RxSight Light Adjustable Lens. It has the highest accuracy in the post-operative vision of any IOL ever used and we are one of the few sites nationwide who offer this lens.  Please feel free to call our office at 713-626-5544 to learn more about the RxSight Light Adjustable Lens and schedule an evaluation to determine if it is the right lens for you.

*To show the level of precision possible when adjusting this lens, the engineers made this video of adjusting the lens shape to reflect the Slade & Baker Vision logo.  It is time-lapsed and magnified.

The lens that is right for you will depend on your ocular health, your occupational needs, and your lifestyle. It is important that you consider your options thoroughly as you only have cataract surgery one time in your life, and the decision you make will affect how you see for the rest of your life.

If you have questions, please do not ever hesitate to call our office at 713-626-5544 and speak to our experts and schedule a consultation today!


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713-626-7744
3900 Essex Lane – Suite 101
Houston, TX 77027

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3900 Essex Lane - Suite 101 - Houston, TX 77027  -  713-626-5544