What is a cataract?

As we age, the natural lenses in our eyes can become clouded. Though painless, cataracts can cause hazy vision, unusual glare, poor night vision, or reduced color perception. People especially notice difficulty in low-light situations like night driving.

Cataracts tend to develop slowly, and surgery may not be immediately necessary, but if your ability to read, drive or carry out other normal activities is hindered, cataract surgery will likely be the best solution.

Cataracts rarely can occur from birth, but most often result from the aging of the eye. Cataracts can also develop from trauma, inflammation or diabetes. Cataracts are usually bilateral, but may not develop at the same rate. Cataracts reduce vision by causing glare with loss of color vision and contrast. When this becomes severe enough to interrupt activities of daily living such as reading, driving or leisure activities, cataract surgery is often performed.

The Vision Care Center continues to be at the forefront of New Vision Technologies and Artificial Lens Implants.

Cataract surgery restores vision by removing the opaque lens (cataract) and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (intraocular lens). To remove the cataract, its membranous lining is first peeled away. Next, the cataract is emulsified and removed through a tiny incision. This leaves only the shell of the natural lens which will hold the new artificial lens implant. The implant or artificial lens is placed inside the remaining membranous bag. Its power is determined preoperatively.

This provides an opportunity for cataract surgery to not only improve visual clarity, but in some cases also reduce nearsightedness or farsightedness. The result is improved vision and a more functional lifestyle.

Please click on this link to The American Academy of Ophthalmology for further information:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts