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Cataracts

cataractsWhat are cataracts?

Cataracts are not a disease and everyone in time will develop a cataract in their eye. A cataract is a natural clouding of the lens inside the eye behind the iris which is the colored part of the eye. There are several different forms of cataracts most commonly due to age, however a small percentage of people can be born with cataracts, called congenital cataracts. Others can develop cataracts from trauma or certain medications. Age related cataracts can develop slowly over years whereas some can develop rapidly.

What are the signs of cataracts?

Cataracts cause a decrease in vision. They can cause glare, halos, or rings around lights. Some patients describe their vision as cloudy and they want to wipe their glasses clean but it does not help. Cataracts often decrease night vision and can cause extreme difficulty driving at night. Colors have often been described as dull and not as vibrant as they were previously.

What is the difference between Cataracts and Glaucoma?

Cataracts are a natural occurring change or clouding in the lens inside the eye.

Glaucoma on the other hand is a disease of the optic nerve causing damage to nerve fibers often related to high eye pressure. This damage to the nerve causes visual field loss which if not controlled can cause blindness.

How do we treat Cataracts?

The only way to truly treat cataracts is to remove the cloudy lens inside the eye done via cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a painless procedure lasting about 10 minutes for most patients. The cloudy lens inside the eye is removed and replaced with a clear lens implant in its place called an intraocular lens.

Due to the unique technology we have today we can often add most prescriptions in the intraocular lens implant prior to surgery. Adding a prescription to the intraocular lens limits the use of glasses after surgery for most patients. There are different options with this including
getting a multifocal intraocular lens implant which often can reduce the overall need for glasses at distance and near following cataract surgery.

If you have immediate questions or concerns or to schedule your evaluation call 317-577-0707. We would love to answer your questions at your annual eye exam at Allisonville Eye Care Center.

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