Our vision is a precious gift. People use their eyes to interact with people, technology, and the world around them. Unfortunately, as people age, the possibility of dealing with a decrease in vision quality or an eye disorder will become greater.
One of the eye disorders many people will face is cataracts. A diagnosis of cataracts can sound scary at first, but luckily there are options available for vision correction. Let’s learn more about cataracts and cataract removal.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are the clouding of the lens inside the eye which causes vision problems. Most cataracts occur due to aging. According to the National Eye Institute, more than half of Americans will have cataracts or will have cataract surgery by the age of 80.
The lens, where cataracts form, is located behind the colored part of the eye known as the iris. The lens focuses light towards the retina in the back of the eye and allows you to see. As we age, our lenses become less flexible, less transparent, and thicker. Tissues break down and clump together, causing the clouding effect. Cataracts can form in one or both eyes.
At first, cataracts side effects may not even be noticeable. Over time, cataracts grow and begin to affect vision.
Some of the symptoms associated with cataracts include:
- Blurred vision
- A sensation of a film covering your eyes
- Night blindness and difficulty driving at night
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight and glare
- Loss of seeing vivid colors
- Frequent eyeglass prescription changes
How are cataracts removed?
Symptoms of early cataracts can be improved by new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, or anti-glare sunglasses. But if vision becomes impaired due to cataracts, then vision correction surgery may be an option for cataracts removal.
Cataracts surgery is a common eye procedure. During surgery, the doctor creates a small incision in the cornea of the eye to allow the surgical instruments through. Following the incision, the doctor will peel back the front layer of the lens to allow access to the areas where the cataract is located. A small probe is used to fragment the cataract and gently vacuum it out. Once the fragments are removed, a replacement lens is inserted. Most of the time, this tiny self-sealing incision does not require uncomfortable stitches, thus resulting in virtually no post-operation restrictions.
Benefits of cataract surgery
It’s never too late to have cataracts vision correction surgery. One of the best benefits of getting surgery is that once the cataracts removal is complete, the cataracts are gone forever because a cataract cannot “grow back.” Another benefit is the procedure requires minimal recovery time. You are back to doing your favorite activities in a matter of days, even hours. Lastly, cataracts surgery will also improve your nighttime driving vision.
Ideal candidates for cataract surgery
To determine if you are a candidate for cataracts vision correction surgery an eye exam is needed. During the eye exam, the doctor will review your medical history and symptoms. Some of the test performed can include a standard visual acuity test (eye chart), slit lamp examination, and/or a retinal exam.
As we age, the chance of developing vision problems will naturally increase. For those with cataracts and other vision problems, vision correction surgery can make a significant difference in improving one’s quality of life. If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about your vision correction options, please contact the Filutowski Cataract & LASIK Institute.
