Cataract
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is an opacity (cloudiness) which occurs in the lens of the eye. The lens is a natural tissue within the eye that is responsible for focusing light onto the retina. Normally, we are born with crystal clear lenses. Over time, the lens turns yellow due to the natural aging process. This yellowing of the lens helps to protect the retina by filtering harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In some people, however, the lens becomes excessively cloudy and can impair vision. This can occur at any age. If we live long enough, we will all eventually develop cataracts.
How Do I Know if I Have a Cataract?
The most common symptom of a cataract is blurred vision which cannot be corrected by glasses. Many people with cataracts will notice trouble driving at night due to glare from headlights and street lamps. As there are many causes of blurred vision, an eye doctor should examine your eyes to determine the cause of your symptoms.
Are Cataracts a Disease? What Causes Cataracts to Form?
Most cataracts occur naturally with age. They are usually not due to disease. People with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, will tend to develop cataracts at a younger age. Cataracts have also been found to occur earlier in people who are exposed to the sun and in smokers. There are also several medications that have been shown to cause cataracts.
What Can be Done for Cataracts?
At The Eye Care Institute, we discuss how the cataract is affecting your vision and your lifestyle before we make a recommendation. If a cataract has impaired your vision to the point that you are not able to do things that you would like, such as driving or reading, we will often recommend no- stitch small incision cataract surgery.
In certain instances, we may recommend removing the cataract even if it does not bother you. For instance, if the cataract is too cloudy for the doctor to see the back of your eye, we may recommend that you have cataract surgery so that your eye can be properly examined. Occasionally, a cataract may cause glaucoma, a sight-threatening eye disease, and removing the cataract may be necessary in order to prevent damage to the eye from glaucoma.
How is Cataract Surgery Done?
There are many ways to remove a cataract. The treatment that is best for you will be reviewed with you by your Eye Care Institute doctor before proceeding.
The surgery is usually performed while the patient is awake, using local anesthesia, although some people may choose to be put to sleep for the operation. The ophthalmologist will use a local anesthetic to make the eye numb so that you will not have pain during the surgery. A small incision is made into the eye to allow access the lens. The cloudy lens will then be removed with microsurgical instruments using a state-of-the-art technique called phacoemulsification.
After the lens is removed, the surgeon will usually implant an artificial lens which will take the place of the cloudy lens that was removed. The artificial lens is called an “IOL”. After your surgery, you typically return home. There is sometimes minimal discomfort that may be relieved with Tylenol (acetaminophen) or another pain reliever.
After I Have Had Cataract Surgery, Can the Cataract Grow Back?
Once a cataract is removed, it does not grow back. However, a clear membrane is left behind the IOL at the time of surgery. Over time, this membrane will haze, causing decreased vision and increased glare. This may occur as soon as a few weeks after surgery, but it is usually one to two years after surgery before the haze becomes significant. When the haze is significant, a laser procedure can be performed (YAG capsulotomy) to clear it. This is a one-time procedure which is performed in the office.
Will I need to wear glasses after Cataract Surgery?
Monofocal IOL’s are designed to correct your distance vision. For people wearing reading glasses before cataract surgery this need often continues. If you are covered by Medicare, this type of cataract surgery is typically covered.
Multifocal or premium IOL’s, such as the ReSTOR® IOL are designed to correct near and distance vision in each eye, at the same time. This exciting new IOL uses apodized technology to let your eyes work in a way similar to wearing bifocal eyeglasses. To learn more about the ReSTOR® lens, ask us, and also be sure to visit www.acrysofrestor.com.
If you are covered by Medicare, this type of cataract surgery is an option partially paid by Medicare.
Why Choose The Eye Care Institute For My Cataract Surgery?
At The Eye Care Institute, Dr. Brennan Greene, Dr. John Meyer and Dr. Mark Jaggers perform cataract surgery. Dr.’s Greene, Meyer and Jaggers have almost 40 combined years experience at performing cataract surgery and have performed over 35,000 cataract surgeries combined. Although not to be considered a guarantee of your result, our typical cataract surgery patient ends up with 20/20 vision post-operatively. So, our doctors have the experience and the proven results to give you the peace of mind to make the right choice for your cataract procedure.
Can I Have Laser Surgery To Remove My Cataract?
While there is one type of laser that can removed the cataract, the laser is not commonly used, nor is it widely accepted as a good treatment option. The phacoemulsification technique used by the doctors at The Eye Care Institute is the most common and most reliable cataract removal technique available. If a friend tells you they had laser surgery to remove their cataract, they probably mean they had laser surgery to clear the hazy membrane that sometimes form after cataract surgery – the cataract was probably removed using phacoemulsification.
