Sea Island - Ophthalmology, LLC

111 High Tide Drive, Beaufort, SC 29906

(843) 525-1500

Are you searching for a Cataract Surgeon in Beaufort County?

Dr. Mark Siegel is considered one of the best cataract surgeons - not just in Beaufort County, South Carolina, but in the entire country. He is a leader in the field, a staunch advocate of the latest technology, research in the field, advanced technology lens implants and refractive laser cataract surgery. Dr. Siegel dedicates extraordinary time to educate patients about cataracts, what they are and when and how they can best be treated. Dr. Siegel is unique in that he personally is involved in pre-operative advanced technology lens calculations, spending extensive time counseling patients, and is responsible for postoperative aftercare. He is not interested in just performing your cataract surgery: he is especially concerned about your aftercare and continuing to care for other diseases affecting your eyes. You will not be treated like a number at Sea Island Ophthalmology: we are not a factory like ultra-high volume practices where patients have cataract surgery and they are not adequately cared for thereafter. This is our guiding philosophy: caring for patients before, during, and after their surgeries.

World-Class Cataract Surgery Right Here in South Carolina:

For over 15 years, Dr. Siegel has been a pioneer in the field of advanced cataract surgery. He is driven not only by the desire to be the best cataract surgeon but to do the best for his patients, before, during and after their surgery. Dr. Siegel’s goal is to help patients see better at not only a set distance but to provide patients a greater depth of focus in order to reduce their dependency on glasses. Over 99% of his patients surveyed are “extremely satisfied” with their experience and outcomes. 

The advanced technology services Dr. Siegel may recommend and incorporate into your cataract surgery include:

• Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery utilizing the LenSx system
• Optical biometry utilizing the IolMaster 700 with swept source OCT, repeated to ensure that the correct intraocular lens is implanted
• Corneal topography, including the use of 3D computer imaging to determine the shape of the cornea for correcting corneal astigmatism 
• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to precisely measure various ocular structures, especially the macula
• Astigmatism (toric) calculations 
• Advanced technology lens calculations in patients with a history of corneal refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, RK)
• Surgical correction of astigmatism (cornea, lens or both)
• Intraoperative alignment procedures during surgery to allow for enhanced astigmatism and/ or presbyopia correction 
• Intraoperative wavefront aberrometry (ORA) that helps to confirm intraocular lens power during cataract surgery

About Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. 

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. Vision through eyes with cataracts is characterized as looking through a foggy window or piece of wax paper. Cataract development is usually a very gradual process of normal aging, but can occasionally occur rapidly. Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are so gradual. Cataracts are very common, affecting roughly 60% of people over the age of 60, and over 1.5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year.

Cataract surgery is a very successful operation. One and a half million people have this procedure every year and 95% have a successful result. As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur during or after surgery and some are severe enough to limit vision. But in most cases, vision, as well as patient quality of life, improve.

Some common symptoms of cataracts may include:

• Painless blurring of vision
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Double vision in one eye
• Poor night vision
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescription

About Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgery ChoicesCataract surgery has existed in this world for over a century, but it is the recent innovations in technology that have transformed this into a very safe and effective surgery. It’s great to know that the success rate for cataract surgery is high when you are going into this situation. Today advanced artificial intraocular lenses have allowed patients to recover more youthful eyesight. Instead of dealing with glasses after surgery some patients may have the choice to upgrade to a new premium type of intraocular lens (IOL) that will enable vision at multiple distances. In addition to the new lens implants available, less invasive surgical techniques have come to fruition to enable much faster healing. Despite the effectiveness of the cataract surgery, the preparation process may take weeks and various decisions will need to be made. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures, with over 3 million surgeries performed each year

Once you have decided to have cataract surgery you will have a number of important decisions to make. The first item on the agenda is to select a skilled cataract surgeon. If you are seeking a cataract surgeon in Beaufort, Dr. Siegel would be more than happy to be your surgeon of choice. At Sea Island Ophthalmology, we have the most up to date and modern surgery techniques available to our patients. Once you have selected a cataract surgeon it is time to understand what lens implant option will be the best. It’s important to discuss your options with a qualified ophthalmologist. Your options will include monofocal lenses, multifocal IOL’s or accommodating lens implants, and toric implants to correct astigmatism.

 

Your Cataract Surgery

Before your cataract surgery, your eye must be properly cleaned and dilated. A topical anesthetic is used before the small incision is made. An ultrasonic device will be inserted into the small incision to pulverize the hard yellow proteins that form the cataract and remove them from the eye.

A folded intraocular lens will be inserted through the original incision. This lens will replace your natural lens and stay in place inside your eye, providing you with clear vision after the procedure. You will not be able to feel or sense the implanted lens in any way. The small incision will then self-seal itself without the need for stitches.

It is important that you discuss your vision expectations with your eye surgeon to determine the right premium lens implant for you. The premium lens will be inserted into your eye after your natural lens has been removed. Learn more about the premium lens implants offered at Sea Island Ophthalmology.

Recovering from cataract surgery is fast and relatively easy! Most patients will notice improved vision with their new lens within the first 24 hours. It is important that you follow the postoperative instructions provided by your cataract surgeon. It is important that you refrain from strenuous physical activity and from rubbing your eyes during the first few weeks after surgery.

 

Learn more about the Premium lens implant options available or take our IOL Self-Evaluation test.