Is it Time for Cataract Surgery?
What is a cataract?
Having a cataract simply means that the natural lens of the eye has become cloudy. Instead of bringing items into sharp focus, the cloudy lens causes some of the light
rays to be diffracted, which causes blur.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, having glare or halos, needing more light to read, decreased contrast sensitivity and decreased color perception.
How is cataract surgery performed?
Before surgery, measurements of the length and curvature of the eye help determine the correct power for the new lens. The new lens is made of plastic, and can be folded to fit through the incision, which is between two and three millimeters in size.
During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed utilizing a special instrument about the size of a pen. The instrument uses ultrasound power to break the lens up into small pieces and vacuum it out. Cataract surgery is done on an outpatient basis. Most patients are very comfortable with only light sedation and topical anesthesia.
How do I know when it's time for me to have cataract surgery?
The decision to proceed with cataract surgery isn’t based on how you see on the eye chart; it is on how much the cataract is impacting your visual function. Decreased contrast sensitivity, glare, haloes and blur can all decrease your ability to drive, read, cook, sew, use a computer and many other activities. When you are having more trouble seeing to do the things you want to do, it may be time to discuss the option of cataract surgery.
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