What is a Cataract?
Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy. They obstruct vision. At first, this vision clouding is subtle, but gradually progresses until vision is impaired. Cataracts can eventually cause blindness, if left untreated. Most cataracts are a natural product of aging, and the degree to which a person suffers from cataracts is related to genetics. In addition to age-related cataracts, there are several other types:
- Congenital cataracts present at birth
- Traumatic cataracts that result from injury to the eye
- Radiation cataracts that result of radiation exposure
- Secondary cataracts from complications of glaucoma, diabetes, or certain medications
Cataract Symptoms
Age-related cataracts generally become noticeable sometime after age 55. About half of Americans aged 65 to 74 have them, and around 70 percent of Americans aged 75 or older have them. Because cataracts progress slowly, many people are not even aware of the gradual deterioration in their vision. Signs of cataracts include:
- Increasing glare
- Poor night vision
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Faded colors, often described as dull or flat vision
- Double vision with only one eye open
- A sudden change in your glasses prescription
- Light sensitivity
Cataract Treatment
Cataract surgery is necessary to remove the cloudy lens which is then replaced by an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). Until recently all IOL’s were fixed for one distance; requiring most patients to need glasses after cataract surgery. Today, there are many different lens options available and depending on your individual needs and lifestyle, your Gailey eye surgeon will help you decide which lens best suits you.
Lens Replacement Options for Cataract Surgery
Gailey Eye Clinic surgeons are recognized internationally as leaders in cataract surgery and lens replacement, specializing in advanced lens replacement procedures. At the time of cataract surgery, you can choose to have your natural lens replaced with either a traditional single focus lens (IOL) or and advanced Lifestyle IOL option.
The new lens implants provide a fuller range of vision, improving your vision at near, intermediate and distance most like the lens you were born with. Most patients who choose these lenses do so because they prefer a fuller range of vision without glasses the majority of their day.
Choosing the Right Lens Implant
Until recently, cataract patients had virtually no choice in the lens implants used to restore vision. With new Lifestyle lenses, you now have several choices based on your individual visual needs and lifestyle.
Advanced Medical Optics manufactures the TECNIS multifocal intraocular lens, offering patients high quality vision day or night and at a full range of distances. It has a unique lens design giving patients superior near vision and reading speed and is the most recently approved multifocal intraocular lens.
The AcrySof ReSTOR multifocal lens provides good vision at all distances. Alcon’s patented technology combines the strengths of apodized diffractive and refractive technologies which are similar to the technologies used in microscopes and telescopes, allowing for good vision at a wide range of distances.
Bausch & Lomb’s Crystalens is an accommodating intraocular lens, natually bending within the eye to shift focus from distance to near. This lens is designed to improve near vision without compromising intermediate and distance vision.
Treating Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea is irregularly shaped, resulting in blurry vision when light rays enter the eye and scatter instead of providing a single focal point. At Gailey Eye Clinic we use the advanced screening technology to identify astigmatism. The test is called corneal topography, where a special instrument is used to photograph the corneal shape and pattern. A detailed map is produced to show the cornea’s size, shape and steepness. The test is fast and painless and will be performed prior to your cataract surgery.
Using the results from corneal topography, we have two options available to treat your astigmatism. The first is an Intraocular Lens (IOL) specifically designed for astigmatism called the Toric lens. This is the preferred approach of Gailey surgeons, if your astigmatism falls within the treatable range. The second option is a procedure called Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) , performed at the time of cataract surgery after implantation of a standard IOL. Your surgeon uses information from corneal topography to see exactly where to make tiny surgical incisions. This is a self-sealing technique so no stitches are needed. After the LRI procedure, the cornea’s shape is more round, further reducing your dependence on glasses afterwards.
