The Cataract Clarity series is a patient education video collection created by Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons to help patients better understand cataracts, cataract surgery, and modern treatment options.
This series is designed to guide you step by step through the cataract surgery journey, from understanding when surgery may be appropriate to preparing for surgery, exploring lens implant options, learning about laser assisted technology, and understanding how cataract surgery can be customized for patients with glaucoma.
Each video is presented in a clear, reassuring, and educational format to help patients feel informed and confident before surgery. Topics are explained in everyday language while still providing meaningful medical insight.
The Cataract Clarity series is intended to be watched before your cataract surgery consultation or procedure and can be revisited at any time to reinforce understanding or share with loved ones.
Video Transcripts
When to Have Surgery, Risks, Benefits, & Alternatives
Being told you have cataracts often raises an important question: do you need cataract surgery right away, or can you safely wait?
In this educational video, Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons explains how cataracts develop, when surgery is typically recommended, and how the decision is closely tied to your daily activities and quality of life. Cataracts are a natural part of aging and often progress slowly over time. Many people notice changes such as glare while driving at night, difficulty reading without bright light, or colors appearing dull before surgery becomes a consideration.
This video covers how cataracts affect vision, why cataract surgery is not considered an emergency, and why waiting too long can sometimes increase surgical complexity. It also explains common alternatives such as stronger glasses or improved lighting, and why those solutions may only help temporarily.
You will also learn how cataract surgery works, including how the cloudy natural lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens designed to match your eye’s prescription. While cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States, this video also reviews potential risks in a clear, transparent, and educational way.
Preparing for cataract surgery can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first eye procedure. In this educational video, Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons walks you step by step through what to expect before cataract surgery and what happens on the day of your procedure.
This video explains common pre surgery requirements such as medical clearance, fasting guidelines, medication adjustments, and when to begin your prescribed eye drops. You will also learn practical tips on how to prepare the night before surgery, including eye hygiene and what not to wear to the surgery center.
The video then guides you through the day of cataract surgery, from check in and anesthesia to the surgical process itself. It covers frequently asked questions such as whether you will be awake, what you may feel during surgery, how long the procedure takes, and how soon you can go home.
You will also learn what to expect immediately after surgery, including vision changes, eye protection, the importance of having a driver, and why next day follow up care is essential. This video is designed to help patients feel calm, informed, and confident as they approach cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery is more than removing a cloudy lens. It is also about choosing how you will see the world moving forward. In this educational video, Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons explains the different lens options available with cataract surgery and how those choices can affect daily life.
Patients often receive a large amount of information during a cataract consultation, which can feel overwhelming. This video is designed to help you slow things down and better understand intraocular lens options at your own pace, from the comfort of home. You may wish to watch it more than once or discuss it with loved ones as you consider what matters most to you.
The video explains monofocal lenses, toric lenses for astigmatism, extended depth of focus lenses, trifocal lenses, and light adjustable lenses. You will learn how each option works, what type of vision it supports, and how lifestyle factors such as reading, driving, computer use, and hobbies can influence lens selection.
You will also gain insight into how premium lenses differ from standard lenses, why some lenses are better suited for certain eye conditions, and why experience and careful measurements play an important role in successful lens selection.
Many patients hear about laser assisted cataract surgery and wonder how it compares to standard cataract surgery. In this educational video, Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons explains how both approaches work and how they differ.
This video walks through what the femtosecond laser actually does during cataract surgery, including creating precise incisions, fragmenting the cataract lens, forming a circular opening in the lens capsule, and addressing astigmatism in select cases. You will learn how laser technology adds precision to certain steps of surgery, as the surgeon uses it to perform the surgery.
The video also explains why laser assisted cataract surgery may be especially helpful for patients choosing premium lens implants, patients with astigmatism, dense cataracts, or more complex eye anatomy. It discusses how laser technology can reduce surgical energy inside the eye and why careful lens positioning is important for visual clarity.
You will also learn about cost considerations, including how insurance coverage works for standard cataract surgery and why the laser portion involves an additional patient paid fee. Both laser assisted and standard cataract surgery are routinely performed and are considered safe and effective options when performed by an experienced surgeon.
Combining Vision Clarity and Pressure Control
For patients living with both glaucoma and cataracts, surgery can sometimes address more than one issue at the same time. In this educational video, Dr. Patrick Costello from Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons explains how cataract surgery can be combined with microinvasive glaucoma procedures to help improve vision and support long term eye pressure management.
The video begins by reviewing how glaucoma affects the optic nerve and why lowering eye pressure is critical to slowing or preventing further vision loss. Many patients are surprised to learn that cataract surgery alone can modestly reduce eye pressure for some individuals.
For patients who need additional pressure control, this video introduces Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery, often referred to as MIGS. These procedures are performed at the same time as cataract surgery and are designed to improve fluid drainage within the eye using tiny implants or microsurgical techniques. Because these devices are extremely small, recovery is often similar to cataract surgery alone.
The video also discusses the wide range of glaucoma procedures available today, how new technologies continue to expand treatment options, and why surgeon experience and customization matter when managing complex eye conditions like glaucoma.
