A COMMON VISION PROBLEM

Cataracts are the number one cause of poor vision in adults, affecting nearly 21 million Americans over the age of 40. Even though they are not dangerous to a person’s overall health, cataracts can cause significant vision problems. The good news, however, is that cataracts are one of the most curable causes of vision loss, and can often be relieved by simple outpatient surgery.

A cataract is defined as the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, which blocks the passage of light needed for vision. Cataracts form slowly and cause no pain. While some stay small and remain hardly a nuisance, others continue to grow and begin to impair the eyesight.

Cataracts usually develop in eyes over a period of years and are most common in people 50 years and older, especially among diabetics, smokers and people who have had prolonged exposure to sunlight. Occasionally, cataracts grow rapidly and in rare cases are seen in infants and children.

Recent advancements in eye care techniques and technology have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available for restoring a patient’s quality of vision.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE CATARACTS?

When an eye’s lens becomes affected, you may experience:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Fading of colors
• Glare from bright lights or the sun
• A halo around lights
• Poor night vision
• Double vision or multiple images in one eye (which may clear)
• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses

Understand that these symptoms may also be a sign of other eye problems, so talk with your doctor or contact us to schedule a checkup.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE CATARACTS

If you are concerned that you may have developed cataracts, our Cataract Team can perform a comprehensive eye exam that includes:

• 
  • An eye chart test to measure your quality of sight at various distances.
  • A dilated eye exam, where drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Our doctor then uses a magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems.
  • Tonometry, which uses a specialized instrument to measure pressure inside the eye.
  

RESTORING YOUR VISION

If our ophthalmologist finds a cataract, the cloudy lens is removed during a simple 15 minute procedure and is then replaced with a flexible acrylic Intra-ocular Implant (IOL). Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye during the surgery.

At Coast Plaza Hospital, our board certified ophthalmologists perform “No-Stitch” cataract surgery using a foldable implant, the most advanced surgical treatment available for procedures of this type. The foldable implant is inserted inside the eye through a small incision that does not require a suture. After the surgery the patient wears only a clear eye shield for protection.

Depending on your eye-related condition and overall health, we may recommend one of the following highly advanced IOLs:

• • ReSTOR IOL implants are designed to improve vision at all distances – up close, far away and everything in between - for patients who have trouble with close-up vision tasks like reading. This treatment gives cataract patients their best chance to live free of glasses. Studies have found that over 80 percent of ReSTOR recipients never required glasses for any task following surgery. ReSTORE IOLs are also being requested by people without cataracts who do not want to use contacts or glasses.
  • Toric IOL implants are designed for cataract patients who have trouble seeing fine detail at all distances due to irregularities in the cornea or lens (astigmatism).

Restrictions after surgery are minimal. Most patients are able to quickly resume normal activities, including taking a shower, bending over and driving. Vision improves significantly the following day and continues to improve for several weeks after the procedure, as the eye heals and adjusts to the replacement lens.

Most insurers, including Medicare, cover the examination, treatment of cataracts, and the implant inserted in the eye. However, if you decide to have AcrySof Restor IOL or AcrySof Toric IOL, there may be an additional cost that is not covered by insurance or Medicare. Please check with your provider.

If you have questions or concerns about your vision, contact the Cataract Program at (562) 868-3751, extension 2115. We are dedicated to protecting the health of your eyes.

To read more, click:
Eye Care Center
Eyelid Rejuvenation