A cataract develops when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy. This is mostly due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation throughout life. Typically, cataracts affect people over the age of 50.
However, cataracts can occur at any age and can be inherited (genetic). A congenital cataract occurs when a baby is born with a cataract because of an inherited defect or infection within the womb.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common eye condition where the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to impaired vision. This cloudiness results from proteins in the lens clumping together, which can happen as a person ages or due to other factors like injury, certain medications, or health conditions such as diabetes.
Cataracts can cause symptoms like:
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Faded or yellowed colors
- Frequent changes in prescription glasses or contact lenses
When is Cataract Surgery Necessary?
Cataract surgery is performed when eyesight is impaired to the point where the patient has difficulty performing daily tasks like driving or reading. In children, it is important that surgery is performed as soon as possible to prevent permanent loss of vision.
It is best to perform the surgery before the cataract is too dense, making the procedure more difficult and lengthier. A particular type of ultrasound known as phacoemulsification breaks up the cataract into smaller pieces that can be easily removed from the eye.
Test Your Candidacy with a Cataract Self-Test
If you’re wondering whether cataract surgery is the right option for you, we invite you to take our Cataract Self-Test. This quick and easy assessment helps determine your suitability for cataract surgery by evaluating factors like age, current vision problems, and overall eye health:
The Procedure Process
The cataract is replaced with a silicone or acrylic artificial intraocular lens implant. The procedure is done within minutes through a small incision in the eye’s outer surface, often without sutures.
The patient is given mild intravenous sedation during the surgery, and only a few anesthetic drops numb the eye. The surgery is painless, and the eye must not be patched afterward.
If the other eye has a cataract, it is prudent to wait several weeks to consider surgery on the second eye.
The Benefits
In addition to the benefit of improved vision, the patient will also be less dependent on their glasses following cataract surgery. The intraocular lens implant is calculated before the procedure, reducing the need for a distance vision prescription in the new glasses.
Most postoperative patients rely on their new glasses primarily for near-reading vision. For patients with astigmatism (irregular curvature of the corneal surface), the surgeon can correct this during the procedure with a Limbal Relaxing Incision or a toric intraocular implant lens.
Advances in Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery has undergone many advances over the last 20 years. It is a much faster and safer procedure, and visual recovery is rapid. Most patients see an eye improvement within a few hours after surgery. Eye drops that reduce inflammation and prevent infection should be taken a few times daily for 4-5 weeks postoperatively.
The new, clear artificial lens implant is permanent and will never become a cataract. In about 80% of all patients who have cataract surgery, a simple laser procedure is required if a tissue film develops behind the lens implant.
The tissue film can occur almost immediately after the surgery or months to years later. The buildup of this tissue film is part of the eye’s normal healing response, and once cleared away with the laser, it will never return.
Laser Cataract Surgery
Many of the steps of cataract surgery traditionally performed using handheld instruments can now be completed using the precision of a laser. The Catalys Precision Laser System is the world’s most sophisticated laser cataract surgery system.
Like a fingerprint, every eye has a unique size and shape. Before treatment, the Catalys® Laser images your eye and makes precise 3D maps of relevant structures. Catalys® then softens and breaks up the hard cataract into tiny pieces, allowing for gentler, easier cataract removal. Once the cataract is removed, an intraocular lens is inserted through the same tiny incision and set into position.
iStent
For patients with combined cataracts and open-angle glaucoma, the iStent is a new micro-invasive procedure designed to improve aqueous fluid outflow and safely lower a patient’s intraocular pressure (IOP).
The iStent is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA. It is placed in your eye during cataract surgery. The iStent is so small that you won’t be able to see or feel it after the procedure is over, but it will continuously work to help reduce your eye pressure.
Multifocal Intraocular Lenses
Many patients relied heavily on reading glasses after cataract removal in the past but are now enjoying the freedom of being glasses-free. This advanced technology is having a fantastic impact on the lifestyle of cataract patients, restoring youthful vision in the ability to see in the distance, up close for reading, and everything in between.
These ‘multifocal’ or ‘accommodating’ implant lenses are designed differently from one another and can be custom-selected for your unique needs.
Only after a comprehensive examination and discussion can you and our surgeons choose the right lenses for your lifestyle. Our patients have enjoyed great success with TECNIS Symfony™ OptiBlue™, PanOptix®, and enVista® Envy™ multi-focal implant lenses.
Schedule an Appointment
At Total Eye Care, we are dedicated to providing exceptional eye care with the latest advancements in cataract surgery.
If you’re experiencing vision difficulties or have been diagnosed with cataracts, now is the time to take action. Contact us today to schedule a personalized consultation, where we’ll assess your vision needs and discuss the best treatment options for you. Let us help you regain clear, vibrant vision and enhance your quality of life.
I have experienced thorough examinations with explanations given for procedures. The doctors are professional and show compassion. I am very confident in what they tell me and prescribe for me!
– Diana B.
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