Cataract Surgery
Cataract
Cataracts develop when the material that makes up the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. It is usually a normal part of the aging process. When the lens becomes cloudy, light cannot pass through it easily and vision is blurred, like looking through a hazy fog or shower door.
Cataract formation is one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults. This condition can be influenced by eye injuries, medications such as steroids, systemic diseases such as diabetes, and other factors including prolonged exposure to UV light, smoking, and radiation. Occasionally, babies are born with a cataract.
In addition to dim or out of focus vision, it can also cause other visual symptoms including:
- Light sensitivity
- Fading of color
- Reduced quality of night vision
- Difficulty reading
- Frequent changes of glasses prescription
- Double vision in one eye
Treatment for Cataract
Once they have developed, the symptoms of cataracts are progressive and cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lens. When symptoms become bothersome or limit your daily activities, it is time to consider treatment. Unfortunately, cataracts cannot be prevented; however, you can slow down the development of cataract by wearing sunglasses and eating a diet rich in antioxidants.
A comprehensive eye exam can determine whether you have cataracts.
Over 25 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts. There are no medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear or prevent them from forming. Surgery is the only treatment for cataract and over 4 million cataract surgeries are done every year. Cataracts should be removed when it causes visual disability, interfering adequate evaluation of the eye, or cause other eye diseases such as glaucoma or eye inflammation.
In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed through a small surgical incision. The natural lens is replaced with a permanent artificial lens implant. More than 1.8 million people have cataract surgery each year in the US, and more than 95 percent of those surgeries are performed with no complications.
Modern cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure – it can quickly restore vision and the downtime is minimal in most cases. Our cataract surgeons are experienced in the latest advancement in cataract surgery and will recommend a surgical option based on your personal needs and desires.
