Cataracts
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss worldwide. They usually affect individuals over the age of 40. Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens in the eye, making objects appear blurry or filmy, and may affect your ability to see clearly in bright lights or on a sunny day. Cataracts develop slowly over a period of years, so you may not even notice a decrease in your quality of vision until objects become heavily blurred and hard to see clearly.
How can I tell if I have cataracts?
Vision changes caused by cataracts generally develop so slowly that we don’t notice them until they are serious enough to affect our normal lifestyle. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does my vision seem blurred or dim?
- Is it more difficult to see distant objects?
- Have my eyes become more sensitive to light and glare?
- Do I see a halo around lights?
- Am I having difficulty driving at night?
- Do colors seem dull?
- Have I had to change eyeglass prescriptions more frequently than usual?
- Do I need brighter light for reading?
- Does my vision sometimes seem distorted?
- Do I see “ghost” images?
- Have I experienced double vision in one eye only?
All of these are common difficulties related to cataracts. Only your eye doctor can determine if cataracts are the cause of your symptoms. A simple eye exam can determine if the culprit is cataracts or any other condition of the eye.
How do cataracts form?
Like the lens of a camera, the eye’s lens focuses to keep the images of both close and distant objects clear. As we age, cataracts form when proteins within the lens clump together and cause cloudy, unstable vision. Over time, some cataracts grow large enough to affect vision, and they can progress to the point of blindness. When poor vision begins to interfere with your daily activities, Dr. Wise can help you reclaim more youthful vision with cataract surgery.
How is a cataract corrected?
Cataract surgery is a relatively simple procedure: to correct a cataract, Dr. Wise replaces the clouded natural lens with a crystal-clear lens implant that takes over the job of focusing light as it enters the eye. The entire process is finished in as little as 15 minutes, and then it’s time to go home.
What are the benefits of modern cataract surgery at Wise Eye Associates?
- Convenient. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis in the pleasant, relaxed atmosphere of a state-of-the-art facility.
- Safe. Dr. Wise performs the procedure under the high magnification of a microscope, using ultrasound technology.
- Comfortable. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye, and modern techniques mean no stitches are generally necessary.
- Effective. Patients experience an almost immediate improvement in vision and a speedy recovery time.
- Affordable. We gladly accept most forms of health insurance, flexible benefits plans, and CareCredit.