A cataract is a condition, not a disease, which occurs when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Most cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, developing slowly and painlessly, but there are some types that occur at birth, as a result of trauma, because of certain drugs, or because of diseases such as diabetes. In the early stage of cataracts, eyeglasses may be effective, however, as time goes on and the condition worsens, the only effective means of restoring vision is cataract surgery. The incidence of cataracts range from 50% of Americans ages 65 to 74 to about 70% of those by age 75.
Symptoms of Cataracts
• Trouble driving toward the sun
• Halos around lights at night
• Difficulty distinguishing colors
• Eyes fatigue easily
• Blurred vision at distance and/or near
• Increased sensitivity to glare
• Feeling as if there is a film over your eyes
Diagnosing a Cataract
A comprehensive eye exam will determine whether you have a cataract. Then it is up to you, the patient, to decide when your vision is so impaired that it inhibits your daily lifestyle and safety to a degree that you decide to have cataract surgery. If a cataract is not bothersome, then surgery is not necessary.
Restoring Vision through the Miracle of Cataract Surgery
The only treatment for a cataract is surgical removal. Instead of removing the whole lens, as done in the past, today they simply remove the clouded part of the lens and leave the clear capsule in place for an artificial lens, called an IOL or intraocular lens implant. The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes less than 15 minutes, although you will be there longer for pre-op and post-op care. Patients are thrilled to have their vision restored in such a fast, safe, and pain-free manner that allows them to literally resume most normal activities within hours. The procedure is highly successful and most people with healthy eyes regain good distance vision between 20/20 and 20/40.
The Lens Implant/IOL Evolution
Until recently, most cataract surgery patients did not have a choice of what kind of lens implants they received. The standard single focus lens implants were used, intended to give clear distance vision, thus requiring the use of reading glasses or bifocals for near vision after cataract surgery. Even though standard single focus lens implants provide good functional distance vision, they do not offer correction for a full range of distance AND near vision, nor do they correct for astigmatism. Now all that has changed. Today's cataract patients can upgrade to premium lens implants. Some, such as the crystalens, the ReSTOR and the ReZoom, are designed to allow patients to see distance AND near without glasses. Others like the Acrysof Toric can correct astigmatism, and the Tecnis has been shown to enhance night driving vision.
Topical, No-Needle Cataract Surgery gives “Instant Vision”
It is no longer necessary to use needle injections to numb the eye for cataract surgery. Today topical anesthesia with eye drops can be put in the eye prior to the surgery to anesthetize your eye. An advantage is that you are able to see immediately after cataract surgery, thus ‘Instant Vision,’ without waiting for the injection anesthesia to wear off. Topical anesthesia, though, is not for all patients, because you must be able to hold your eye still during surgery. However, since cataract surgery generally takes less than 15 minutes, most do not have a problem doing this.
