The doctors and staff of Palmetto Eye & Laser Center have many years of treating patients with cataracts. Developing cataracts is a natural part of the aging process, and most, if not all of us, if we live long enough, will discover the impact that cataracts can have on our lives. We want to assist you in understanding this natural part of aging and to reassure you that there are very good options now for restoring your vision after cataract surgery!
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that can cause vision problems. The most common type of cataract is related to aging. More than half of all Americans age 65 and older have a cataract.
In the early stages of a developing cataract, stronger lighting and eyeglasses may lessen vision problems caused by the cataract. It is important to understand that cataracts develop slowly, over time. So, it may be that it suddenly feels as if you’ve had deterioration in your vision, but that is because the progression of the cataract has finally gotten to the point that the tools you’ve used to overcome it (increased lighting, changing your glasses) will no longer help. Once cataracts begin to interfere with your normal day to day activities (work and pleasure), it is probably time to talk to your doctor about surgery to correct this problem.
Today, cataract surgery is safe and very effective. There are special lenses used to replace the cloudy lens (cataract) of your eye. These are implanted at the time that the cataract is removed, so postoperatively you should be able to have much improved vision!
You Have Choices! Please see our Customized Cataract Surgery
What is the Lens of the Eye?
The lens is the part of the eye that helps focus light on the retina. The retina is the eye’s light-sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain. In a normal eye, light passes through the lens and gets focused on the retina. To help produce a sharp image, the lens must remain clear.
The lens is made mostly of water and protein. The protein is arranged to let light pass through and focus on the retina. Sometimes some of the protein clumps together. This can start to cloud small areas of the lens, blocking some of the light from reaching the retina and interfering with vision. This is a cataract!
In the early stages, a cataract may not cause a problem. The cloudiness may affect only a small part of the lens. However, over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens making it harder to see. As more and more of the lens is affected, less light is able to reach the retina and your vision may become dull and blurry.
Cataracts do not spread from one eye to the other, although many people do develop cataracts in both eyes. Even though researchers continue to learn more about cataracts, no one knows for sure what causes them. Scientists think there may be several causes, including smoking, diabetes, and excessive exposure to light.
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Problems with light especially at night.
- Colors that seem faded
- Poor night vision
- Double or multiple vision
- Frequent changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses
These symptoms can also be signs of other eye problems and conditions. If you have any of these symptoms, it is always best to have a comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor who is an M.D.) During this type of exam, your doctor will include:
- Visual Acuity Test: An eye chart to measure how well you can see at
various distances.
- Pupil Dilation: The pupil is widened with eye drops to allow the doctor
to see more of the lens and retina and look for other eye problems.
- Tonometry: This is a standard test to measure the fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased fluid pressure may be a sign of glaucoma.
In an early cataract, vision may be improved by using different eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting. When these measures no longer help, or if the decreased vision interferes with the patient’s quality of life, then surgery is the only effective treatment.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, your doctor will not remove them both at the same time. You will need to have each done separately. Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States today. It is also one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures! In about 90% of the cases, patients who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward.
How is the Cataract Removed?
The surgeons of Palmetto Eye & Laser Center primary use phacoemulsification to remove cataracts from our patients. It is important to note that there is NO laser that can remove cataracts!
Phacoemulsification is a surgical method using an ultrasonic oscillating probe inserted into the eye. (NO, your eye is NOT removed during cataract surgery!) This probe breaks up the center of the lens. The fragments are suctioned from the eye at the same time. A small incision that often does not require sutures (stitches) to close can be used since the cataract is removed in tiny pieces. Most of the lens capsule is left behind and a foldable intraocular lens implant, or IOL, is placed permanently inside to help focus light onto the retina. Vision returns quickly and one can resume normal activities within a short period of time.
Possible Complications of Cataract Surgery
- Loss of vision or decrease in vision
- Loss of eye
- Infection
- Bleeding inside or behind the eye
- Uncomfortable or painful eye
- Less attractive appearance (droopy eyelid)
- Need for laser surgery to correct clouding of vision
- Need for additional treatment and/or surgery
Following your comprehensive eye exam and your decision to proceed with cataract surgery, one of the nurses will do some tests to measure the curve of the cornea and the size and shape of the eye. This information will assist the doctor in selecting the proper IOL to be used in your surgery.
You will also be scheduled through our surgery scheduling technician who will go over all your preoperative and postoperative instructions with you. She will schedule your surgery with the ambulatory surgery center of your choice and notify you how the facility will contact you for the information that they need.
At the ambulatory surgery center, you will be given eye drops to dilate your pupil. The area around your eye will be washed and cleansed.
The operation usually lasts less than an hour and is almost painless. Many people choose to stay awake during the surgery, while others may require sedation. After the surgery, a patch may be placed over your eye and you will rest for a while. You will be watched by the nursing staff postoperatively to make sure that there are no problems such as bleeding. Most people go home the same day of surgery, after only a few hours. You will not be able to drive, so you must have someone with you to drive you home.
What to Expect After Cataract Surgery
You will probably feel some itching and mild discomfort for a while after cataract surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common, and your eye may be sensitive to light and touch. After 1 to 2 days, even moderate discomfort should disappear. In most cases, healing takes place within about 6 weeks.
After surgery, your doctor will schedule exams to check on your progress. For a few days after surgery, you may take eye drops or pills to help healing and control the pressure within your eye. The staff and your doctor will be certain to tell you how to take any medications that you will need. You will also need sunglasses to help protect your eye. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye.
Once you are at home, try not to bend or to lift heavy objects. Bending increases the pressure in the eye. You can walk, climb stairs and do light household chores.
What is an “After-Cataract?”
Sometimes a part of the natural lens that is not removed during cataract surgery becomes cloudy and may blur your vision. This is called an after-cataract. An after-cataract can develop months or years following your cataract surgery.
Unlike a cataract, an after-cataract can be treated with a laser. In a technique called YAG Laser Capsulotomy, the doctor uses a laser beam to make a tiny hole in the lens to let the light pass through. This is a painless procedure which can be done in our office.
