Cataract Surgery Co-Management

Don’t Let Cataracts Cloud Your Vision

Over 50% of people aged 65 and older have a cataract in one or both eyes. As the cataract progresses, vision deteriorates, leading to a decreased quality of life. Fortunately, cataract surgery can easily treat this condition.

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are cloudy patches that develop on the lens of your eye. Cataracts can cause blurred or double vision, may increase light sensitivity and interfere with driving, especially at night. Without cataract surgery, millions of people around the world would be unable to see clearly.

The most common symptoms include:

Blurred or double vision
Trouble seeing at night
Sensitivity to glare
Colored halos around lights
Colors appearing more faded
Requiring brighter light for reading

When to Get Cataract Surgery

As we evaluate your eye health and vision, we'll carefully examine your lens for signs of cataract formation. If a cataract is detected and the clouding is causing visual disruption, our optometrist will refer you to a trusted surgeon for cataract surgery. Family Vision Center will be there for you, providing pre and post cataract surgery care.

As the condition begins to seriously impair your vision and adversely affects your daily life, impacting your ability to read, drive, watch TV or recognize faces, you should seriously consider surgery.

Benefits of Cataract Surgery

High success rate

Cataract surgery, one of the world’s most commonly performed surgeries, has a 95% success rate.
Quick and convenient

This procedure can take just 30 to 45 minutes in an outpatient setting or hospital.
Prevents other eye problems

Removing cataracts can reduce the risk of eye inflammation and pressure inside the eye–a leading cause of glaucoma.
Rapid recovery time

Patients start seeing more clearly within a few days. Colors may seem brighter thanks to the new, clear lens.

How to Prepare for Cataract Surgery

Apply antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eyedrops a few days before surgery if instructed to by your eye doctor
Arrange for a ride after the surgery, since you won’t be able to drive
Wash your face in the morning of the procedure and don’t wear eye makeup, strong perfumes or aftershave

What Happens During Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery removes your natural cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve and restore vision. This common and very safe procedure is performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) on an outpatient basis.

The eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) will perform cataract surgery on one eye at a time. That means that you will come in for another surgery on the second eye. The procedure is brief and typically takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
The eye doctor will place drops into your eyes to numb them and dilate your pupils. Though you’ll be conscious during the procedure, you may be offered a sedative to help you remain calm. The eye surgeon will then remove your natural lens and replace it with the IOL. You should feel no pain or discomfort thanks to the anesthetic.

Cataract Surgery After-Care

After surgery, you may feel a bit drowsy as an after-effect of the sedative. Your eye doctor will prescribe eye drops to prevent infection, inflammation and to reduce pressure within your eye. The surgeon may recommend that you wear an eye patch for a few days after your surgery and the protective shield when you sleep during the recovery period. Make sure to avoid rubbing your eyes or touching them unless necessary.

A day after cataract surgery, we'll provide a post-operative eye exam to make sure that all is well. Your Tucson optometrist will further perform a series of follow-up exams in the weeks and months to come. If determined that you require corrective lenses following your cataract surgery, we'll make sure you get the proper prescription.

Cataract Surgery Management FAQs

What are side effects of cataract surgery?

While side effects are rare, there are some issues that people commonly encounter in the days after surgery, as the eyes heal.

Dry eye
Feeling that something is in the eye
Blurry vision
Light sensitivity

If any of these side effects do not subside within a week or two, please contact Family Vision Center.

Can I delay cataract surgery

You can delay cataract surgery, but keep in mind that your vision will likely worsen the longer you put off the procedure.

When is cataract surgery not recommended?

Cataract patients who also have age-related macular degeneration or retinal detachment may not respond well to cataract surgery and the new lens may not correct vision.

Can cataract surgery give me 20/20 vision?

If you had great vision before developing cataracts, it’s likely that cataract surgery will restore your sight. Moreover, the IOL inserted into your eye can be designed to correct refractive errors, providing you with clear vision.

Meet our Cataract Surgery Co-Management Doctors

Mark Fischer O.D.

Curtis Dechant O.D.

Amy Fuhr-Dechant O.D.

Jeffrey Horst O.D.

Patient Reviews

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- Dec. 27, 2025

I was a new patient and from the time I entered the service was impeccable. I'm a big stickler on cu... Show Morestomer service and I will say from the smiles to the greetings they had me before I even saw the doctor. The first point of contact was professional and efficient, just very smooth. Was called back in less than five minutes of entering. Again, very professional, greeted with a smile, a great greeting and a genuine sense of caring. The first point of contact was a technician to do the preliminary testing for the doctor and she explain every step in great detail. Very impressed! Took me to the patient room for a couple more test with the tech and then was told that the doctor would be right in. Yup, 3 minutes later Dr. Amy came in, greeted me like we knew each other for years. Made me feel so comfortable. I did have a eye problem that developed recently that had me a little worried and Dr. Amy made me feel relaxed and that there was nothing to worry about right off the bat. She is amazing, explained and showed me exactly what was going on with my slight blurred vision in one eye and made sure I knew it was nothing even remotely serious to make me feel better through her whole exam. I'm telling you, I'm 60 years old and been around and this is the first time in a vision center that I felt like a true patient and not looked at for $$. The explanation of all the tests, the showing of the pictures of my eyes and telling me my eyes were good with all the explanations, they were not perfect but not trying to sell me a prescription that was not needed. I use readers and she explained my insurance and what they pay every year. I asked her since a prescription wasn't needed could I use my insurance benefit for good readers with the right strength in each eye instead of the $20 pair from walgreens. Took me to the optician and we found a pair that my insurance covered and I will have a great pair of readers soon. My experience here was just awesome!! I would definitely recommend this business if you want great service and awesome knowledgeable doctors, along with very knowledgeable opticians that were never in a hurry and never a "just buy those" mentality. They really cared!! This place definitely deserves a 10 out of 5 in my book and that says alot coming from someone who holds very high standards!! Thank you Dr. Amy and your team for the utmost professionalism that you and your team showed this patient!!