Cataracts
What are cataracts?
Cataract Description
A leading cause of visual loss in older adults, a cataract occurs when the natural lens of the eye becomes clouded. This can occur in one or both eyes, though it cannot be transferred or spread from one eye to the other. When the lens is obstructed by a cataract, it cannot focus properly on images, which results in objects appearing blurred or dull. This condition cannot be prevented or corrected by medication – the most effective way to treat a cataract is a through a surgery to completely replace the old, clouded lens with a new, artificial lens. For most patients, this surgery completely transforms their vision and dramatically improves their quality of life.
Symptoms
There are several common signs that a patient has developed a cataract, including:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Poor night vision
- Difficulty with glare — headlights, lamps or sunlight may appear too bright or a halo may appear around lights
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses
A routine eye exam, performed by a primary eye care doctor, will reveal if a cataract is present. The primary eye care doctor can refer you to Dr. Harris for a comprehensive cataract evaluation at which time she will offer her expert opinion for treatment options.
Need a primary eye care doctor? Please visit the Affiliated Physicians link to help you find a doctor who works closely with our team.
Treatment Methods
Following a cataract diagnosis, there are several treatment options available to patients, depending on the severity of their cataracts.
Impaired vision resulting from an early cataract can sometimes be improved with a change in prescription of eyeglasses or contacts; however, once a cataract has begun to interfere with your everyday activities (reading, driving, etc.), surgery is the most effective method of treatment.
According to the National Institutes of Health, cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States, in addition to being one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. An estimated 90% of patients experience better vision following cataract removal.
Cataract Surgery
Cataract Surgery Description
Once you have decided that cataract removal surgery is the right option for you, our office staff will schedule the date for your outpatient surgery. The process for removing a cataract involves the following steps:
- Your surgeon will create a small incision in the eye, on the side of the cornea – just large enough to pass small surgical instruments through.
- Once the incision has been made, the surgeon will gently peel off the front layer of the lens – allowing access to the inner areas of the lens, where the cataract has formed.
- Using a surgical tool, your surgeon will break up the cataract into smaller segments and will vacuum these smaller fragments out of the remaining good lens.
- Once all fragments of the cataract has been removed, a replacement lens will be inserted into the capsular bag where the natural lens used to be. In most cases, this is an intraocular lens, which is foldable and slips in through the tiny incision.
- Because the incision is so small, it is often water-tight and does not require any sutures – particularly if a foldable lens has been used.
Content courtesy of Eyemaginations’ Cataract Surgery demonstration.
Benefits
At Cataract Consultants, our goal is to rejuvenate your vision using the most appropriate method of treatment for your individual needs. While the most obvious benefit of cataract removal surgery options we offer is improved vision, for most patients, the most notable benefit is the improved quality of life that follows the surgery. Many patients are once again able to do the things they loved before cataracts impaired their vision.