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Cataracts
At Montgomery Eye Physicians, we take great pride in the exceptional eye care service our patients receive. Our highly skilled surgeons have many years of experience and use only the newest, most advanced technology. Our goal is to make sure you receive high quality, individualized attention in a friendly, caring environment.
What Is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. Vision through eyes with cataracts is characterized as looking through a foggy window or piece of wax paper. Cataract development is usually a very gradual process of normal aging, but can occasionally occur rapidly. Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are so gradual. Cataracts are very common, affecting roughly 60% of people over the age of 60. This year, over 3.6 million cataract surgeries will be performed in the United States and over 20 million surgeries will be performed worldwide.
Some common symptoms of cataracts may include:
- Painless blurring of vision
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Double vision in one eye
- Poor night vision
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescription.
Cataract Symptom Checker
Recent advances have significantly improved safety as well as the outcomes of cataract surgery. Phacoemulsification with a very small incision has eliminated the need for stitches. New lens technology has reduced the post-op need for glasses or contacts for many of our Montgomery area patients.
How Do You Know If It’s Time for Cataract Surgery?
You may be a good candidate for cataract surgery if:
- Completing basic tasks like cooking dinner, doing the dishes, or cleaning your home is no longer possible due to impaired vision
- You feel uncomfortable leaving your home and are now socially isolated because of worsening vision from cataracts
- You can no longer do your favorite hobbies like hiking, sailing, or hanging out with your grandchildren due to your worsened vision
- You’ve started injuring yourself more around your house
- You frequently have to change your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses to see clearly
- You require more light to complete fine-focus tasks
If these sound familiar, you may want to consider cataract surgery at Montgomery Eye Physicians.
How Does Cataract Surgery Work?
During cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon will begin by giving you eye drops that numb your eye and ensure you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. Once the eye drops can spread over the surface of the eye, your cataract surgeon will make a small incision in your cornea, followed by breaking up your natural lens into smaller pieces.
After breaking up the lens pieces, it is suctioned out of your eye with a process called phacoemulsification. Removing your natural lens also eliminates the cataract.
Next, they will insert an intraocular lens (IOL) into the lens capsule. The IOL will replace your natural lens and ensure you can see clearly after cataract surgery.
No sutures or stitches are needed, as the incision heals on its own. You may be required to wear an eye shield to protect your eye during recovery.
Risk Factors for Cataract Surgery
Although cataract surgery is an incredibly safe and effective procedure, risk factors and complications still exist. These may include:
- Infection, which is usually treated with antibiotics
- Increased inflammation after the procedure, which can cause discomfort and blurry vision
- Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), in which the back of the lens capsule becomes cloudy, which can occur months or years after cataract surgery. PCO can be treated with a simple and painless procedure called a YAG capsulotomy
- In rare cases, retinal detachment may occur, requiring an additional procedure to prevent vision loss
Certain factors, like pre-existing eye conditions, may increase your risk of developing complications. These can include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, your age, and certain health conditions like diabetes.
Intraocular Lens Options Available at Montgomery Eye Physicians
Significant technological advances have provided a number of different lens options for patients requiring cataract surgery.
Monofocal lenses provide a fixed focus at a single distance, either near, intermediate or far and are used in the majority of cataract procedures. These lenses have the advantage of excellent quality of vision under a variety of lighting conditions. Most patients choose distance vision and wear reading glasses for near. For those who don’t mind wearing readers, this is an excellent choice. Recent refinements in the optical quality of these lenses have allowed an even higher quality of vision than previously achievable. The monofocal lens does not require additional testing and out-of-pocket charges.
Multifocal or “specialty lenses” can reduce the need for glasses or contacts following cataract surgery. These lenses offer the possibility of seeing well at more than one distance. The lifestyle of each patient considering a multifocal lens must be taken into account in order to achieve the best visual outcome. Specialty lenses are an excellent option for some patients but are subject to additional testing and out-of-pocket fees. They are not considered “medically necessary” by Medicare or insurance companies. Ask your Montgomery eye surgeon if a specialty lens is right for you.
