Removal of cataracts is crucial to preventing severe vision loss and the debilitating effects that this common condition can cause.
What Are Cataracts?
Our eyes function very much like a camera. You have two natural lenses in each eye. One lens is on the surface (cornea) of your eye, and a second lens is within your eye, called the crystalline lens. Together, these lenses focus images inside the back of your eye on the retina. At birth, our crystalline lens is clear. As we begin to age, it yellows and begins to harden. When it becomes cloudy, it is defined as a cataract and begins to interfere with the quality of our vision.
Everyone will eventually develop cataracts as they age. Age-related cataracts may develop during middle age, but typically, they only begin to affect vision after age 60.
Health conditions like diabetes, eye injuries, prolonged use of steroid medications, UV ray exposure, and tobacco use also cause cataracts. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred images, dull, bright colors, and difficulty seeing at night. Cataracts may also be why your glasses do not seem to help keep things in focus as well as they used to. As cataracts develop over time, people tend to accept and adjust to the decline in their vision.
We’re proud to offer the region’s most advanced, comfortable, and convenient cataract surgery experience. We aim to restore your vision and improve your life, with less stress and more comfort.
Dropless Surgery
We proudly offer “No Drop, No Prescription” cataract surgery for convenience and cost savings. We were the first center in Texas to provide this exciting convenience to our patients. Not only does it save often hundreds of dollars in eye drops, but it also means not having the inconvenience of using multiple drops before and after the cataract surgery. This helps in both monetary and self-convenience!
No IV Surgery
Typically, the most painful part of cataract surgery is getting an intravenous (IV) placed in your hand or arm. That is why here at Southwest Eye Institute, we eliminated IVs for most patients! We offer a unique combination of oral medication to reduce anxiety and/or provide sedation to give you a comfortable experience, usually without an IV. However, if you do prefer the additional sedation offered by an IV, our anesthesiologist will be happy to provide that for you.
Glaucoma Treatment
During cataract surgery, if you have glaucoma, we can often treat your glaucoma at the same time as your cataract surgery by performing “micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)” by placing an iStent® at the time of surgery. In our experienced hands, this usually adds less than one minute to your cataract surgery but helps lower your eye pressure significantly. Many patients can stop glaucoma drops after our cataract surgery with MIGS.
Dedicated Eye Surgery Center
Adjacent to the Southwest Eye Institute is the Vista Surgery Center, the area’s only center dedicated 100% to the surgery of the eyes. We also boast an extremely high patient satisfaction rate, a zero percent infection rate, and an amazing, compassionate team dedicated to your health and comfort. As you can see, we have an unparalleled attention to detail and approach to cataract surgery. We look forward to helping you obtain better vision
We proudly offer “No Drop, No Prescription” cataract surgery for convenience and cost savings. We were the first center in Texas to provide this exciting convenience to our patients. Not only does it save often hundreds of dollars in eye drops, but it also means not having the inconvenience of using multiple drops before and after the cataract surgery. This helps in both monetary and self-convenience!
Typically, the most painful part of cataract surgery is getting an intravenous (IV) placed in your hand or arm. That is why here at Southwest Eye Institute, we eliminated IVs for most patients! We offer a unique combination of oral medication to reduce anxiety and/or provide sedation to give you a comfortable experience, usually without an IV. However, if you do prefer the additional sedation offered by an IV, our anesthesiologist will be happy to provide that for you.
During cataract surgery, if you have glaucoma, we can often treat your glaucoma at the same time as your cataract surgery by performing “micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)” by placing an iStent® at the time of surgery. In our experienced hands, this usually adds less than one minute to your cataract surgery but helps lower your eye pressure significantly. Many patients can stop glaucoma drops after our cataract surgery with MIGS.
Adjacent to the Southwest Eye Institute is the Vista Surgery Center, the area’s only center dedicated 100% to the surgery of the eyes. We also boast an extremely high patient satisfaction rate, a zero percent infection rate, and an amazing, compassionate team dedicated to your health and comfort. As you can see, we have an unparalleled attention to detail and approach to cataract surgery. We look forward to helping you obtain better vision
Actual Cataract Patient
“I opted for the Tecnis Symfony lenses, and I am glad I did. I can now read the smallest font on my smartphone and drive my car, all without my readers or my contact lenses! Simply amazing! The Tecnis Symfony lens is truly a blessing, as are the staff at Southwest Eye and of course, Dr. Ellman. Thanks again, Doc!”
David S.
Actual Cataract Patient
I have received a gift of life because now I can see far and near and this has made my life so much better. I traveled from Puebla to El Paso for my operation because of the reputation of the Southwest Eye Institute. They treated me great, I felt comfortable and calm as the doctor and his team gave me great confidence. I often speak of my experiences and everyone is surprised at the treatment I received, the rapid recovery, the technology they had, and how well I can see.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
