Dr. Stainer has performed surgery in Bakersfield since 1981 and currently performs more than 1200 surgical procedures a year. Surgery lasts only 12-15 minutes and most patients regain improved vision by the next day. Surgery is perfomed at an ambulatory surgery center unless an insurance plan dictates a different choice.
Most patients leave the surgery center within one hour to recover at home.
The most widely used technique is called phacoemulsification. A very small incision is made and a tiny ultrasonic probe is used to break up the cataract and gently suction it away. This IOL is necessary to replace the focusing power of the natural lens, which was removed. With insertion of an IOL, there is little need for thick cataract glasses and contact lenses that were used years ago. Small incision surgery has several benefits.