Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Colorado Ophthalmology Associates has been a leader in vision correction in the Denver area since it was founded in 1960. Today, Colorado Ophthalmology remains one of the most dynamic, busiest, and most respected groups in the region. Together we carry on the tradition of bringing the latest technical innovations and surgical techniques to our patients.

In addition, we offer a wide array of procedures and exams to ensure our patients’ long-term ocular health, including intraocular lens implants (IOLs) and corneal transplant surgery. We also offer comprehensive eye exams as well as fittings for glasses and contact lenses in our full service optical shop at both of our office locations.

• Cataract Surgery
• Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)
  • AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOLs
  • Toric IOLs
  • Verisyse™ Phakic IOLs
• Corneal Transplants
• Comprehensive Eye Exams
• Glasses and Contacts

Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are opacities that develop in the lens of the eye or in the ocular envelope as a result of natural aging.  They can be caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, exposure to radiation, or diabetes and are characterized by a yellowing of the lens itself.  Cataracts can greatly diminish visual acuity and, if left untreated, can eventually lead to blindness.

The most common and effective treatment for cataracts is surgery.  The cloudy lens is removed from the eye by a process known as phacoemulsification, where the lens material is emulsified (broken up) using high frequency sound waves and is aspirated from the eye.  The next step following lens removal is usually intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, where a synthetic lens is put in place of the removed lens and usually serves as a permanent replacement for the lens. 

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Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are synthetic lenses made from inert material that can act as artificial lenses for patients who have either had their natural lenses removed as a result of cataract surgery or patients who have severe astigmatism or presbyopia that is difficult to correct through traditional treatment.  IOLs represent a breakthrough in refractive surgery because they allow patients to regain clear and precise vision in cases where it had previously been thought impossible.  The ReSTOR® IOL, made by AcrySof® is an example of intraocular lenses that correct all ranges of vision, even helping with presbyopia, a condition that occurs with age and affects millions of people worldwide.  Toric IOLs are designed to correct severe astigmatism.  Verisyse™ Phakic IOLs offer the same vision correction benefits of traditional IOLs, but are not permanent since their implantation process does not involve removing the existing crystalline lens from the eye.  

AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOLs

Patients who suffer from presbyopia resort to reading glasses and bifocals to see objects at near distances. Traditional IOLs do not correct for presbyopia, so cataract surgery patients need to wear bifocals or reading glasses for near vision. The AcrySof® ReSTOR® intraocular lens provides a permanent and effective solution for presbyopia patients with cataracts.  By providing a stable, multifocal, artificial lens for the cataract patient that also corrects for the symptoms of presbyopia, ReSTOR® can vastly improve vision in older adults. 

ReSTOR® IOLs are designed to utilize two breakthroughs in lens focusing technology: apodized diffractive and refractive technology.  Similar to technology that has been used to improve the quality of images in microscopes and telescopes for years, these technological advances are unique to the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens.  The result is better, more focused vision for presbyopia and cataract patients.

Toric IOLs

Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) are designed to treat cataract patients who also suffer from astigmatism, a condition where the front surface of the eye ball is not spherical.  Astigmatism results in blurry vision which is generally worse at distance than at near.  Toric IOLs work by correcting for both spherical and cylindrical visual aberrations.  Spherical aberrations are the cause of common refractive errors such as myopia and hyperopia.  Cylindrical aberrations are the cause of astigmatism.  Generally, these lenses are slightly more difficult to implant than other IOLs because they require very precise angular placement within the eye.  Toric IOLs are the single most effective way of correcting astigmatism in patients who have undergone cataract surgery.

Verisyse™ Phakic IOLs

The Verisyse™ Phakic intraocular lens implant is used to correct moderate to severe myopia (nearsightedness).  The lens is placed behind the cornea and in front of the iris of the eye. A Verisyse™ Phakic IOL acts as a secondary focusing lens which precisely focuses images on the retina. The term “phakic” refers to the fact that the existing crystalline lens of the eye remains in the eye at the conclusion of the procedure.  Although Verisyse™ IOLs are designed to be permanent replacement lenses, the procedure is reversible because the natural lens of the eye is left intact.

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Corneal Transplants

Corneal transplantation is the most common and successful organ transplant surgery performed in the United States.  It is a procedure that replaces an existing diseased or damaged cornea that no longer allows light to pass through it clearly, with the cornea from a human donor.  There are many diseases that can impair the cornea’s ability to focus light including congenital and degenerative diseases, scarring from infection or trauma and dystrophies, all of which reduce the clarity of the corneal membrane.  Corneal transplantation can treat these problems because it substitutes a healthy, human cornea for the patients’ diseased one.  As is the case with all organ transplants, there is the risk that the patient’s body will reject the donated tissue.  As a result, our ophthalmologists perform an extensive pre-examination of your eye to reduce the risk of potential complications related to the transplantation. 

If you would like to learn more about corneal transplantation and whether it is a good option for your vision needs, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians.

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Comprehensive Eye Exams

Our ophthalmologists and optometrists utilize a variety of tests to ensure the health of our patients’ eyes.  The tests include eye chart exams, glasses and contact lens fitting, intraocular measurements, and evaluation with specialized microscopes.  We also check for symptoms of potentially dangerous eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.  We believe that our job is to not only correct vision problems, but also safeguard against potential problems before they actually occur. 

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Glasses and Contacts

In addition to vision correction procedures, we also offer fittings for traditional glasses and contact lenses.  We offer many different brands of contact lenses and frames, including specialty lenses designed to specifically correct vision problems such as presbyopia, astigmatism, and irregular corneas.  Our goal is to find an attractive, comfortable, and effective way of correcting your vision

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Contact Our Practice

To learn if you are a good candidate for any of our cutting-edge ophthalmic procedures, please contact Colorado Ophthalmology Associates to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled physicians.