Cataracts

With age, changes occur in almost all eyes. Between the ages of 60 and 80 years old, the lenses become gradually more cloudy and opaque. When a lens is opaque, this is called a cataract. This process begins to block light from passing through the front of the eye, causing symptoms such as trouble reading in dim lights, glare while driving at night and other difficulties with overall quality of vision. Because it occurs in both eyes and over such a long period of time, many patients do not realize that their symptoms come from a cataract until they are evaluated by an eye doctor in the office.

Cataracts are removed with surgery. This allows light once again to pass through to the inside of the eye and is able to improve vision significantly. While there are many ways to remove a cataract and different techniques and tools utilized, there is no way to remove the lens without physically entering the eye with instruments designed for this delicate surgery. New techniques to more safely perform cataract surgery are being developed each year.

Once removed, the eye needs an intraocular lens implant to see clearly. Man-made lens materials have been used for many years that do not degrade with time and are not recognized as foreign to the body. Once a cataract is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens, the lens will never need to be replaced again.

Overall, cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world, providing improved eyesight to millions of patients each year. If you or someone you know is considering cataract surgery, it is important to consult with a cataract surgeon that you can have confidence in and who will help you achieve the best results after surgery is performed.

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