Ophthalmology

Dr. Thomas Graul

TCHS offers two forms of eye surgery:
Cataracts
YAG Laser Procedure

Our visiting ophthalmologist is Dr. Graul.

Cataract Surgery

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye, causing vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or corneal refractive surgery like LASIK.

As frightening as cataracts might sound, modern cataract surgery usually can restore vision lost to cataracts — and often can reduce your dependence on eyeglasses as well. Modern cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today.

In cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision.

The procedure typically is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility.

YAG Laser Procedure

During cataract surgery, the intraocular lens, which has become cloudy, is permanently removed and replaced with an implant lens. Once removed, the cataract can never come back. However, the thin membrane that holds the implant lens in place can eventually become hazy and cause blurry vision. If this occurs, our surgeons can perform a YAG laser capsulotomy to restore your clear vision. The procedure is painless and takes only a few minutes to perform in the hospital and involves using a laser to create a small opening in the thin membrane while leaving the implant lens untouched.