A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye and is most often age-related. Cataracts are a major cause of vision loss in the United States, and most people will eventually experience some cataract formation after age 65. The good news is that cataracts can be treated very successfully with surgery.

In a healthy eye with good vision, light passes through the clear lens. The lens helps to focus the image on the retina (nerve cells at the back of the eye), and the retina relays the image to the brain. Cataracts interfere with this normal visual process. When a cataract forms on the lens of the eye, it prevents light from passing through it correctly. As a result, the image focused on the retina is cloudy, blurry, or distorted.

Cataracts form as part of the aging process as the lens of the eye undergoes chemical changes and loses some of its pliability. Cataracts can also be congenital. Eye injuries and some eye diseases (such as glaucoma) can contribute to the development of cataracts as well. Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or blurry vision, problems with glare and halos, frequent glasses prescription changes, and double vision.

Cataracts cannot be prevented but they can be treated. Regular eye examinations can help diagnose cataracts. Special instruments, such as the ophthalmoscope and slit lamp, allow doctors to view the eye's internal structures. Other vision tests can help determine how much cataracts are affecting vision. Some of the tests that may be used include: contrast sensitivity, glare testing, an A-scan (an ultrasound test), a potential acuity measurement (PAM), and an endothelial cell count.

Remember, cataracts can be treated very effectively with surgery. Surgery is not typically urgent but is done when the cataract causes bothersome interference with vision. Please contact us to learn more about cataracts or schedule an appointment.

Cataract Surgery

Cataracts, cloudings of the eyes' natural lenses, are a common ailment. Fortunately, surgery to remove cataracts has an exceptionally high success rate, and new techniques have improved the procedure and reduced recovery time.

One significant advancement has come about in anesthesia administration. In the past, general anesthesia or local injections were required. Today, eye drops can be used to numb the eye without the use of a needle. Topical anesthesia in the form of eye drops is safer and more comfortable for the patient.

Another recent improvement is the "no-stitch" technique, which involves the use of a single tiny incision made in the eye's cornea (its outer layer). The incision heals by itself in a short time. This technique offers many advantages, from reduced recovery time to lower risk of postoperative astigmatism.

No-stitch surgery is made possible by a surgical technique known as phacoemulsification, which uses ultrasound technology to break apart the cataract. In phacoemulsification, a tiny probe enters the eye through a small corneal incision. The probe then siphons out the pieces of the cloudy lens. Once the cataract-containing lens is removed, it is replaced with a special replacement lenses known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Recovery time after surgery is short, and most people experience vision improvement soon after surgery. Some people will still need glasses after cataract surgery, while others may be able to see clearly without them.

Finally, technology now allows for simple laser treatment of so-called "secondary cataracts," which can occur when the clear lens capsule left in place during previous cataract surgery becomes cloudy itself.

While most people can benefit from the latest techniques in cataract surgery, we do offer traditional techniques as well. Even if you are not a good candidate for the new surgical options, you can expect good results from traditional cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can help reverse vision loss from cataracts, so please contact us today to schedule an appointment.