Cataracts are one of the most common causes of vision loss as we age—and fortunately, also one of the most treatable. In a recent KETV Very Local Business Spotlight, Dr. Brandon Menke of ilumin in Omaha, NE, shared how modern refractive cataract surgery is transforming lives by going beyond simply removing a cloudy lens and giving patients personalized, lasting clarity.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract develops when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy over time. This cloudiness can cause:
- Blurry or hazy vision
- Glare and halos around lights
- Frequent changes in glasses prescriptions
- Trouble seeing at night or in low light
Cataracts are a natural part of aging, but they can seriously impact quality of life if left untreated. The good news: cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful procedures performed in the U.S.
The Role of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
Traditional cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). But today, patients have more choices than ever before. Premium IOLs allow cataract surgery to do more than just restore basic sight—they can also correct vision problems like astigmatism and presbyopia (the loss of near vision with age).
Types of IOLs include:
- Multifocal lenses – improve both near and distance vision, reducing the need for reading glasses.
- Toric lenses – correct astigmatism for sharper clarity.
- Light Adjustable Lenses – the newest option, allowing customization of vision after surgery with light treatments, giving patients unprecedented control over their outcome.
Manual vs. Refractive Cataract Surgery
Manual cataract surgery restores vision by replacing the cloudy lens with a standard clear IOL. However, it doesn’t usually address other refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Refractive cataract surgery takes the next step. It uses advanced diagnostic technology to select and place premium IOLs that are tailored to each patient’s vision goals. Instead of just restoring sight, refractive cataract surgery can reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses, offering a life-changing improvement in both vision and lifestyle.
Benefits of Refractive Cataract Surgery at ilumin
At ilumin in Omaha, patients benefit from:
- A full range of premium lens options
- Advanced technology, including the innovative Light Adjustable Lens
- Personalized planning for outcomes that fit each patient’s lifestyle
- A compassionate team dedicated to long-term vision health
Watch the KETV Feature
In this KETV segment, Dr. Brandon Menke shares how cataract surgery has evolved and why more patients are choosing refractive cataract surgery for clear, customized vision.
Full Transcript of the KETV Interview
Lauren Taylor: Get ready for another very local business spotlight. Today we’re at ilumin talking to Dr. Brandon Menke. Dr. Menke, what is cataract surgery and how does it help improve a patient’s vision and quality of life?
Dr. Menke: So cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures done in the U.S. It’s certainly one of the most successful procedures. And to put simply, a cataract is when with time and age, the lens inside our eye gets yellow, cloudy, and hazy, and affects our vision, whether it’s distance or near vision, requiring people to use glasses and new glasses until eventually they just need that new lens to be broken up and taken out.
Lauren Taylor: And what is refractive cataract surgery and how is it different from the standard cataract surgery?
Dr. Menke: So, as I mentioned, we put a new lens inside your eye and so refractive cataract surgery is talking about putting a customized lens in there to give a patient desired outcome.
Lauren Taylor: And how do those premium intraocular lenses help patients after cataract surgery?
Dr. Menke: Yeah, so there’s a whole host of different lenses out there. I would say the main ones that we use, as I mentioned, would be a multifocal lens to keep or increase the near vision for those patients that are nearsighted and again they’re used to near vision most of their life. There are patients where we want to use a toric lens to correct astigmatism. And lastly, in my opinion, the newest lens that is the most innovative, something called a light adjustable lens, where we basically put a blank canvas in a patient’s eye and then use light to tweak and customize that prescription to give them the distance and near vision they’ve always wanted.
Lauren Taylor: All right, Dr. Menke, thank you so much for your time today. Very Local Business Spotlight is brought to you by ilumin.
👉 Ready to learn more about refractive cataract surgery in Omaha, NE? Visit https://ilumineyes.com/medical-conditions/cataracts/ or call 402-933-6600 to schedule your consultation with ilumin.
