Cataracts

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Cataracts

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Your eye has a clear lens through which the image passes allowing you to see. When this lens becomes cloudy it is called a cataract.

Cataracts cause progressive painless loss of vision. The lens clouds naturally with age so that, in general, people over the age of 65 usually a gradual reduction in their vision. In younger people, cataracts can come from injury, certain medications or illnesses such as diabetes. Ultraviolet light may play a role in cataract formation. Smoking cigarettes has also been linked to cataract formation.

Cataracts can cause:

Blurred vision
Double vision
Poor vision in bright light
Seeing halos around lights
Vision that has a yellowish tinge
Difficulty seeing at night

If vision drops to a level that interferes with your ability to read, work, or do your normal activities, then cataract surgery should be considered. Surgery is the only effective way to deal with cataracts. The procedure is generally painless. It is one of the most frequently performed procedures. Cataract surgery also has a very high success rate.

We perform no-stitch cataract surgery through a very small incision. After the eye is numbed with anesthesia, a phaco-emulification (ultrasound) probe is inserted into the eye and the cataract is broken up or emulsified. It is then gently removed from the eye (Step 1 below). Step 2 involves the placement of a new artificial lens called an IOL. The IOL will correct for the majority of your distance vision. Fine tuning is done with a prescription for glasses, if necessary. Some patients will only need glasses for reading.

Treatments and Addtional Information

Endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP)
For patients who are having cataract surgery and have glaucoma as well. This laser is applied to the ciliary processes (the area where the fluid is made in the eye) so that fluid production is slowed down. This in turn, lowers the pressure inside the eye.
No-Stitch Cataract Surgery
We perform no-stitch cataract surgery through a very small incision. After the eye is numbed with anesthesia, a phacoemulcification (ultrasound) probe is inserted into the eye and the cataract is broken up or emulsified. It is then gently removed from the eye. Step 2 involves the placement of a new artificial lens called an IOL. The IOL will correct for the majority of your distance vision. Fine tuning is done with a prescription for glasses. Some patients will only need glasses for reading.