Few procedures are as rewarding, or as life-changing, as cataract surgery. After years of colors fading and vision slowly clouding, most people are amazed by how bright, vivid, and sharp the world looks again. It is also one of the rare moments in medicine where the choice is truly yours: you decide how you want to see, and today's lenses give you more control over that outcome than ever before. Throughout the process, it is a comfortable, reassuring experience our patients are consistently glad they chose. You will be in the hands of Dr. A. Vijay Mudgil, a board-certified ophthalmologist and among the most experienced cataract surgeons in Chester County, with more than 20,000 procedures performed. He is experienced with complex and post-refractive cataract cases, offers laser-assisted cataract surgery and the full range of specialty and premium lens implants, and is recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, a Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor, and a Main Line Today Top Doctor since 2009. Dr. Mudgil personally performs every procedure. Here is what to look forward to, every step of the way.
A cataract evaluation is a covered medical visit under Medicare and most insurance plans if you are having symptoms of cataracts. Take the quiz below to see if you're ready for a consultation.
Cataract surgery here is led by Dr. A. Vijay Mudgil, a board-certified ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon serving Chester County and the Main Line. He completed his residency at Brown University and a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, where he stayed on as a faculty Assistant Professor and taught residents their first cataract surgeries. He is among the most experienced cataract surgeons in Chester County, with more than 20,000 procedures performed, and is experienced with complex and post-refractive cataract cases, including eyes that have had LASIK, PRK, or RK. He offers laser-assisted cataract surgery and the full range of specialty and premium lens implants, and is recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, a Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor, and a Main Line Today Top Doctor since 2009. He was also ranked number one in ophthalmology by Main Line Today for many years, in the years the magazine published rankings, and Dr. Mudgil has been recognized with a Patients' Choice Award, and the practice holds a 4.9-star Google rating. Mudgil Eye Associates is the only private practice in Chester County offering dropless cataract surgery. Your optometrist is a valued part of your eye-care team, providing your exams, glasses, and ongoing care, and we are grateful to the many optometrists who trust us with their patients. When cataract surgery is the right step, Dr. Mudgil personally performs your consultation and every procedure at an accredited surgery center, and your follow-up visits are with our optometrist, or with your own optometrist if we are co-managing your care.
Mudgil Eye Associates offers laser-assisted technology for cataract surgery, where a femtosecond laser performs key steps of the procedure with computer-guided precision. The laser is an elective upgrade that you choose with Dr. Mudgil's guidance, not a step included by default, and we use it only when there is astigmatism to correct, so it is not part of every procedure. On its own, for astigmatism too mild for a toric lens, it costs about $2,000 per eye, covering all professional and surgery center fees for the laser. When it is used alongside a specialty lens, it is complimentary. It is most valuable for patients with astigmatism, because the laser can make small corneal incisions that reduce it. Candidacy still depends on your eye, and Dr. Mudgil will tell you plainly whether it is likely to help you. Standard cataract surgery is performed without the laser and remains an excellent option for many patients. We also offer dropless cataract surgery, which replaces weeks of post-surgery eye drops with an antibiotic and a steroid placed inside the eye as two separate injections during the procedure.
What astigmatism is. The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye. In an eye with astigmatism it is shaped more like a football than a basketball, so light entering the eye focuses at more than one point instead of a single sharp point. Vision looks blurred or stretched at distance and up close, and letters can appear doubled or shadowed. It is common, it is not a disease, and it does not resolve on its own. Removing a cataract does not correct it. Unless astigmatism is addressed during surgery, it is still there afterward, and glasses are needed to correct it.
How the laser corrects it. The femtosecond laser treats astigmatism by placing arcuate incisions, also called limbal relaxing incisions, in the cornea. These are small, curved, partial-thickness cuts made at a depth, length, and axis the laser calculates from measurements of your eye. They let the steeper part of the cornea relax slightly, which evens out its shape and brings light closer to a single focal point. The result is less astigmatism and less dependence on glasses, though results vary from person to person and glasses may still be needed for some tasks.
Where a lens implant does the job better. Arcuate incisions treat lower amounts of astigmatism well. Larger amounts are generally handled better by a toric lens implant, which corrects astigmatism inside the eye rather than at the cornea, and the two approaches are sometimes combined. Dr. Mudgil will tell you which suits your measurements. The lens decision, including toric lenses, is covered in full on our premium lens comparison page.
Who is a candidate. Laser astigmatism correction is worth discussing if you have a measurable amount of corneal astigmatism and you would like to depend on glasses less after cataract surgery. Dr. Mudgil measures your cornea at the consultation and tells you how much astigmatism you have and whether arcuate incisions are likely to help. Corneal scarring, keratoconus, significant dry eye, or previous refractive surgery can make arcuate incisions a poor choice, and he will tell you when that is the case. If you have little or no astigmatism, there is nothing for the laser to correct, and standard cataract surgery is the right choice.
What it costs. Medicare and most insurance plans cover standard cataract surgery with a standard monofocal lens. They do not cover the laser when it is billed as an elective upgrade. We use the laser only when there is astigmatism to correct, so it is not part of every procedure. On its own, for astigmatism too mild for a toric lens, it costs about $2,000 per eye, covering all professional and surgery center fees for the laser. When it is used alongside a specialty lens, it is complimentary. The choice is yours to make with Dr. Mudgil's guidance, you receive a written estimate before anything is scheduled, and nothing is added without your agreement. See what cataract surgery costs.
Not every cataract is straightforward. Dr. Mudgil is a board-certified ophthalmologist who is experienced with complex and post-refractive cataract cases, and these are the situations where surgical experience and the right technology matter most. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Cataract surgery after LASIK, PRK, or RK. Prior laser vision correction reshapes the cornea, which makes the standard lens-power formulas less reliable in those eyes. Dr. Mudgil uses post-refractive calculation methods for these cases and can use the ORA System to measure the eye during the procedure itself, refining the lens choice while you are still in the operating room.
The Light Adjustable Lens for eyes that are harder to predict. The RxSight Light Adjustable Lens is the only lens implant that can be fine-tuned after surgery. Using gentle light treatments in the office, you and Dr. Mudgil adjust the vision together and then lock it in, which is particularly useful in eyes with prior refractive surgery or an unusual measurement profile.
Astigmatism correction. When astigmatism is present alongside a complex or post-refractive cataract, it can be corrected during the same operation, with a toric lens implant or with laser corneal incisions depending on the amount. The astigmatism section on this page explains how that decision is made.
Glaucoma alongside a cataract. When glaucoma coexists, Dr. Mudgil can place an iStent during the same procedure, through the same incision and with no added anesthesia, to lower eye pressure.
Dropless technique. Mudgil Eye Associates is the only private practice in Chester County offering dropless cataract surgery. An antibiotic and a steroid are placed in the eye as two separate injections during the procedure instead of a weeks-long drop routine at home.
Each of these is a capability rather than a promise. Dr. Mudgil will review your measurements and your surgical history at your consultation and tell you candidly which of them apply to your eyes.
A cataract is a clouding of your eye's natural lens. Over time the lens proteins break down, so vision turns blurry, colors fade, and glare or halos make night driving harder. Cataracts are most often a normal part of aging, though diabetes, eye injury, certain medications, and years of sun exposure can play a role. The reassuring part is that this is one of the most fixable conditions in all of medicine, and correcting it often leaves people seeing better than they have in years.
The only way to truly resolve a cataract is to replace the clouded lens with a clear artificial one, called an intraocular lens (IOL). Glasses help only in the early stages. Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most refined, and most rewarding procedures in medicine, and it is also your chance to decide how you want to see for the rest of your life. That is a decision worth understanding and embracing, and we will help you make it with confidence.
The day is far easier than most people expect. The procedure itself is quick, about 15 to 20 minutes per eye, and you will not feel pain. Your eye is numbed with drops and you are given IV sedation, with no numbing injection around the eye. You stay relaxed and at ease, awake but comfortable throughout. The two eyes are usually done two or more weeks apart. Plan for about 2.5 hours at the surgery center door to door, including check-in, prep, and a short recovery. Afterward it is normal for the eye to feel a little scratchy and for lights to have halos; as the dilation wears off, your vision begins to sharpen, and the excitement of seeing clearly sets in.
Preparing is simple. For standard surgery, starting two days before, use your prescribed drops and gently clean your eyelashes with a little baby shampoo to keep the lids clean and lower infection risk. With dropless surgery an antibiotic and a steroid are placed in the eye as two separate injections during surgery, so most patients skip the weeks of post-op eye drops. You will still do the baby-shampoo lash scrubs starting two days before.
Your surgery is performed at one of our two trusted centers, Turk's Head Surgery Center or the ChristianaCare Surgery Center at Glen Mills. After check-in, your eye is dilated and numbed, the procedure is performed, and you rest briefly before heading home the same day. You will be well looked after from the moment you arrive. Take it easy the rest of that day, knowing the hardest part is already behind you.
Dr. Mudgil makes a tiny, self-sealing incision, gently removes the clouded lens, and places your chosen lens in its place. Stitches are usually not needed. This is the moment your clear vision is restored and the lens you selected goes to work.
Because of the sedation and dilating drops, you cannot drive yourself. You will need someone to drive you to and from surgery, and again to your postoperative appointment the next day, until we are able to clear you to drive.
This is the part patients love. Recovery is usually smooth and comfortable, and most people start enjoying clear, vivid vision within just a few days. The day after surgery you will be seen by our optometrist, or by your own optometrist if we are co-managing your care, and again at about one month. Depending on which lens you choose, there is sometimes an additional visit at around one week. For the first week or so you will sleep in a light protective eye shield, so you cannot accidentally bump or rub the eye overnight. Also avoid eye makeup for about a week, and swimming, hot tubs, and open water for about four weeks. Then enjoy the view.
If you also have glaucoma, your cataract surgery can do double duty. Dr. Mudgil can place an iStent, the world's smallest medical implant, at the same time, through the same incision, with no added anesthesia. It lowers eye pressure, often helping you delay or avoid more involved surgery down the road. Many patients need fewer glaucoma drops afterward and some are able to stop them, though that depends on the individual eye and cannot be promised in advance. The iStent is covered by most insurance, and we will tell you at your consultation whether it is a good fit for you.
With surgery centers in West Chester and Glen Mills, patients come to us from across the region, including West Chester, Exton, Malvern, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Chester Springs, Kennett Square, Paoli, West Goshen, Glen Mills, Media, and Newtown Square, along with many who travel from nearby Delaware. Wherever you are in Chester County, Delaware County, or the state of Delaware, expert cataract care is close to home.
Select any question to see the answer.
It is a quick, painless outpatient procedure. Dr. Mudgil removes the clouded lens and replaces it with your chosen intraocular lens, restoring clear vision. It is one of the most common and successful surgeries performed today.
The surgery itself takes only about 15 to 20 minutes. Plan to set aside about 2.5 hours for the full visit, including check-in, prep, and a short recovery.
You will have IV sedation along with topical numbing eye drops. There is no anesthetic injection around the eye. You stay relaxed and comfortable, awake but at ease, and should not feel pain.
Usually not. Cataract surgery is very low risk for bleeding, and in most cases it can be performed safely without stopping your blood thinners. Dr. Mudgil will confirm what is right for you.
No. Each eye is done separately, usually two or more weeks apart, so the first eye can heal before the second. Dr. Mudgil will plan the timing around your vision needs.
Use your prescribed drops if you are not having dropless surgery, avoid rubbing the eye, and skip heavy lifting for about a week. Bending is fine, despite what you may have heard. No swimming, hot tubs, or open water for about four weeks. Wear your eye shield at night and sunglasses during the day.
Your vision may be blurry at first from the dilating drops, and the eye can feel a little grainy. As the day goes on it clears, and most people are enjoying sharp vision within a few days. You are seen the day after surgery by our optometrist, or by your own optometrist if we are co-managing your care, and again at about one month. Depending on which lens you choose, there is sometimes an additional visit at around one week.
Not right away. You will need someone to drive you to and from surgery and to your next-day visit, until we are able to clear you to drive. Rideshare is not permitted for discharge.
Light walking is fine right away. Hold off on heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for about a week, then ease back into your usual routine as you feel comfortable. Bending over is not restricted.
Skip eye makeup for about one week to keep the area clean while the eye heals. After that, you can return to your normal routine.
Avoid swimming, hot tubs, and open water for about four weeks, which protects the healing eye from infection. Showering is fine right away, just keep soap and water out of the eye.
With a standard or toric lens set for distance, you will usually still want reading glasses. With a presbyopia-correcting lens, many patients reduce their dependence on glasses, though results vary from person to person. We will help you choose based on how you want to see.
No. Once the natural lens is replaced, the cataract cannot return. Some people later develop a cloudy film behind the implant, which is easily cleared with a quick, painless laser treatment called a YAG capsulotomy.
Insurance and Medicare cover standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens. Premium options such as astigmatism correction, presbyopia-correcting lenses, and the Light Adjustable Lens are elective upgrades with an additional out-of-pocket cost. See our cataract surgery cost page for details.
Your optometrist is a valued part of your eye-care team who provides your exams, glasses, and ongoing care. When cataract surgery is needed, Dr. A. Vijay Mudgil, a board-certified ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, performs your consultation and your surgery at an accredited surgery center. Your follow-up visits are with our optometrist, or with your own optometrist if we are co-managing your care. It is a team approach, with the surgery performed by Dr. Mudgil.
No. Cataract surgery is performed using topical numbing eye drops along with IV sedation. Most patients describe a feeling of light pressure and bright lights, but no pain. There is no numbing injection around the eye, and any medication placed at the end of surgery is given while your eye is still numb, so you will not feel it.
Dropless cataract surgery places an antibiotic and a steroid inside the eye as two separate injections at the end of surgery, so most patients are spared the weeks of prescription drops that normally follow surgery. Mudgil Eye Associates is the only private practice in Chester County offering dropless cataract surgery.
Yes. Medicare covers cataract surgery and a standard monofocal lens implant when surgery is medically necessary. Medicare does not cover premium lens upgrades, or the laser when it is billed as an elective upgrade.
The only way to know for certain is a comprehensive eye examination. Dr. Mudgil will check your vision, evaluate the maturity of your cataracts, and discuss whether surgery is the right step for you right now.
Trusted surgical experience
Board-certified ophthalmologist. Experienced with complex and post-refractive cataract cases. Laser-assisted cataract surgery and the full range of specialty and premium lens implants. Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, a Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor, and a Main Line Today Top Doctor since 2009. Ranked number one in ophthalmology by Main Line Today for many years, in the years the magazine published rankings. Dr. Mudgil is a Patients' Choice Award recipient. The practice holds a 4.9-star Google rating.
Read our Google reviewsMudgil Eye Associates cares for cataract patients throughout the region. Find local information for your town:
