What is a Cataract?
A cataract is when the lens inside the eye turns cloudy/opaque rather than being clear.
Most commonly it is a normal change that happens when we get older, but can be sped up by a several things. Cataracts can be related to other health problems (ex. Diabetes), eye trauma, some medications (ex. Steroids), UV exposure, damage from smoking, and can even be congenital (present at birth).
Recognizing the Signs
Cataracts usually cause blurry vision, as well as visual symptoms such as glare, starbursts coming off lights, and halos surrounding lights. A very common complaint from patients is issues with nighttime driving related to these light phenomena.
Cataract Surgery by the Numbers
4 million
surgeries performed worldwide last year
Less than 1%
complication rate
15–20 minutes
typical length of surgery
Common Questions About Cataracts
What Causes Cataracts?
Most commonly it is a normal change that happens when we get older, but can be sped up by a several things. Cataracts can be related to other health problems (ex. Diabetes), eye trauma, some medications (ex. Steroids), UV exposure, damage from smoking, and can even be congenital (present at birth).
How do I know if I have a cataract?
Cataracts usually cause blurry vision, as well as visual symptoms such as glare, starbursts coming off lights, and halos surrounding lights. A very common complaint from patients is issues with nighttime driving related to these light phenomena.
How do you treat cataracts?
Cataracts can be managed either through updating one’s glasses prescription, or through surgical removal of the cataract. This can be determined by having an ophthalmologist evaluate your eyes to see if the vision can be corrected.
When will I know I’m ready to have my cataracts removed?
When evaluating cataracts, we consider three things. What is your best corrected vision, what cataract symptoms are you having and how severe are they, and what does the cataract look like. Based on these criteria, you and your ophthalmologist will discuss what option works best. As cataract surgery is elective, it will be up to you to decide when you’re ready. However, you will need to keep in mind the longer you wait, the more challenging the surgery can become, and that there are also limits to what your vision needs to be to renew your driver’s license.
Is cataract surgery safe?
YES! Cataract surgery is very safe. It is the most commonly done surgery in the world on a daily basis, with over 4 million surgeries being performed worldwide last year. Cataract surgery has a very low complication rate, less then 1%, and the recovery time is usually very quick, on the scale of days to weeks.
What does Cataract Surgery Involve?
Cataract surgery is outpatient surgery. It involves accessing the cataract, breaking it into pieces, and removing it from the eye. A new artificial lens (called an IOL for short) is then placed in the same location where the cataract was located. Surgery typically takes 15-20 minutes. We take as much time as we need to complete the surgery safely. As Dr Parlin likes to say “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”
Lens Options for Your Surgery
There are several good options available for lens implantation at the time of surgery. Unfortunately, technology has not caught up to the human body, and no options exist that is as good as the natural lens we are born with. However, there are very good options available. Not everyone is a good candidate for all lenses, so your ophthalmologist will go over the options with you and make a recommendation based on your eyes and surgical measurements. Listed below are the options currently offered by our practice
Monofocal IOLs
Targets a specific distance (either near or far, but not both) requiring use of glasses for the distance we do not target. Gives excellent quality vision while minimizing glare/halos. Fully covered by insurance.
Monovision
Using the single distance lens (previously mentioned), the target varies between the two eyes, with one targeting distance while the other targets reading/computer. Enables a patient to avoid use of glasses the majority of the time, but does require some getting used to. A great choice for people who have previous experience with monovision contact lenses.
Advanced Technology IOLs: As the name suggests, offer features that are not available with the single vision IOL. Our practice currently offers two types.
Extended Depth of Focus
Provides a range of vision, beginning at an arm’s length away and extending off into the distance. Provides good quality vision while minimizing glare/halos. For small print up close, pts generally need to use a low power pair of reading glasses, but otherwise are spectacle independent.
Multi-Focal IOLs
Provide multiple focal points (distance/computer/reading) rather than a continuous range, but allows for the highest degree of spectacle independence.
Astigmatism and Cataract Surgery
Astigmatism is when the cornea (the clear dome-like structure that covers the iris/colored part of the eye) is shaped more like a football or rugby ball rather than spherically (like a basketball). The shape of this structure determines how you eye is able to focus light. When the astigmatism is regular, or symmetric across the eye, it can be corrected with a special version of all the lenses listed above. This can be determined at the time of cataract evaluation with an ophthalmologist.
Ready to Schedule Your Visit?
Schedule your appointment today.