CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — For millions of people, cataracts are a normal part of aging. But their impact on your ability to read, drive and perform everyday tasks isn’t something you have to live with. Cataracts are highly treatable, and Zion Eye Institute performs thousands of safe, painless cataract surgeries for Southern Utah patients every year.  

June is Cataract Awareness Month, and Dr. Derek Denney with Zion Eye Institute recommends everyone age 55 and over schedule a yearly eye exam to watch for cataracts and other age-related vision problems like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Zion Eye Institute is the largest and longest-serving vision care provider in Southern Utah. Their highly qualified and knowledgeable specialists encompass all areas of eye care under one roof, offering everything from the most basic exam to the most complex surgery.

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that mainly occurs in older adults. Additional risk factors include smoking, diabetes, long-term corticosteroid use, prolonged exposure to sunlight and a family history of cataracts. 

The most common symptoms are blurred vision, excessive glare or halos around lights and dimming of vision. Vision quality will continue to decrease as time goes on, eventually requiring surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens implant. 

“Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the US,” Denney said. “It takes less than 20 minutes, it’s completely painless, and the benefit is great.” 

Optimal vision after cataract surgery depends on accurate measurements, meticulous surgical technique and careful choice of implant lenses. As a team, Zion Eye Institute performs more cataract surgeries than any other vision care provider in Southern Utah. The practice offers all the latest and most advanced procedures, including custom cataract surgery, laser-assisted cataract surgery, Restor and Tecnis multifocal lenses and Toric lenses to correct astigmatism. 

Many patients opt for dropless cataract surgery, which eliminates the regimen of medicated eye drops that must be used several times per day at strict intervals. The dropless procedure allows the surgeon to administer antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medication directly into the eye during surgery to protect against swelling and infection.

Once the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an implant, the cataract will never return. However, the thin membrane holding the new lens in place may eventually become hazy and cause blurry vision. If this occurs, the surgeons at Zion Eye Institute can perform a YAG laser capsulotomy to restore clear eyesight. The procedure is painless and takes only a few minutes to perform in the office.

“Patients always tell me that everything runs so smoothly on their surgery day because we have such great staff,” Denney said. “They’re well taken care of, and they’re very happy with their experience at Zion Eye Institute.”  

Denney is a comprehensive ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and LASIK surgery. He also manages the care of patients with a variety of ocular conditions including dry eye, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. During his three years at Zion Eye Institute, he has consulted with hundreds of patients to determine whether they’re a candidate for cataract surgery and to discuss expected outcomes.   

Zion Eye Institute is a multispecialty practice offering comprehensive optometry and ophthalmology services, including pediatric eye care, at four locations in Southern Utah and Mesquite, Nevada. The St. George clinic houses an ambulatory surgical center performing LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, cornea surgery, retina surgery, glaucoma surgery, pediatric eye surgery and eyelid surgery.

As the community continues on a trajectory of exponential growth, Zion Eye Institute continues to evolve and diversify along with it.

Call 435-334-6643 today to schedule a free comprehensive consultation to see if you’re a candidate for cataract surgery. Zion Eye Institute offers attractive financing options for all vision correction procedures.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

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Resources

• Zion Eye Institute | Address: 1791 E. 280 North, St. George | Telephone: 435-656-2020 or 877-841-2020 | Website.
• Other locations
  • Santa Clara: 1100 Canyon View Drive, Unit G, Santa Clara | Telephone: 435-674-3502.
  • Cedar City: 110 W. 1300 North, No. 175, Cedar City | Telephone: 435-865-5979.
  • Mesquite, Nevada: 1301 Bertha Howe Ave., Ste. 11, Mesquite, Nevada | Telephone: 702-346-9175.

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