| A cataract is a clouding, opacity, yellowing, or | | | | significantly reduced after surgery. Many patients |
| accumulation of fluid in the lens of the eye that | | | | find they have only occasional need for glasses |
| results in a loss of vision and interferes with your | | | | for distance. Some lens implants available today |
| lifestyle. Most cataracts are related to aging, and | | | | provide some reading capacity also. Most of the |
| by the time you reach the age of 70 most | | | | time delaying cataract surgery will not cause |
| people will show some signs of cataracts. Age | | | | long-term damage to your eye so you should not |
| related cataract may occur in one eye first but | | | | feel a need to rush into surgery. Cataract |
| with time will usually be present in both. The lens | | | | removal may become essential when other eye |
| is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, | | | | diseases in the eye are present. Retina |
| or an image, on the tissue lining the back of the | | | | degeneration or diabetic related complications need |
| eye called the retina. The retina is lined with the | | | | to be visualized well to be followed for |
| receptor cells that transform light particles into | | | | complications that might night be seen with a |
| electrical impulses. A healthy lens is transparent | | | | cataract obstructing vision. . Even if your eye |
| due to the special proteins that help the layers | | | | doctor tells you have a cataract, your cataract |
| repeat in a regular pattern that causes the least | | | | may never develop to the point where surgery is |
| interference and passes the most light through. | | | | required. |
| The lens does some filtering of the ultraviolet | | | | If you have cataracts in both eyes, the surgery |
| radiation from the sun preventing UV from | | | | may be necessary on one eye only for good |
| reaching high levels in the retina. While the lens | | | | vision. If surgery is required on both eyes it will be |
| filters out UV in both the A and B bands, it filters | | | | done at separate times several months apart. |
| virtually all of the UV radiation between 320 to | | | | This is a much safer approach should |
| 400 nan meters and the proteins responsible | | | | complications occur, and allows for refinement of |
| oxidize over time. Free radicals also increase and | | | | procedure if the first outcome is slightly off. As |
| the lens yellows and loses transparency as water | | | | with any surgery, cataract surgery does have |
| starts accumulating in-between the layers. | | | | some risks. Infection inside the eye is the most |
| Eye surgery for glaucoma and other conditions | | | | serious, but rare complication. Lenses may be |
| can lead to cataract formation. Certain health | | | | displaced, cause damage to other tissues in the |
| conditions like diabetes can also cause cataracts, | | | | eye, and the retina tissue in the back of the eye |
| occasionally very rapidly and in some instances | | | | may have swelling or detach. |
| also rapidly reversible. Unfortunately, they are | | | | Some prescription medications predispose you to |
| usually permanent. Prescription steroid medications | | | | problems during surgery so be sure to discuss all |
| used long term can result in cataract | | | | of your prescriptions with your eye doctor well in |
| development. Traumatic cataracts result after | | | | advance of eye surgery. Flow-max, a prescription |
| serious eye injuries but usually will not progress | | | | used to treat benign prostate growth has been |
| over time like age related cataracts. Infants | | | | associated with Floppy Iris Syndrome during |
| occasionally are born with cataracts or develop | | | | surgery. Floppy Iris Syndrome can cause |
| them in early childhood, These cataracts may be | | | | problems during cataract surgery so you should |
| so small and enough off the line of sight that they | | | | be sure to inform your eye doctor if you are any |
| do not affect vision. While technically a cataract, I | | | | prostate medications. Before cataract surgery, |
| feel an opacity needs to cause lifestyle | | | | your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop |
| interruptions before they should be labeled as a | | | | taking certain medications that increase the risk of |
| cataract. Cataracts are best described by function | | | | bleeding during surgery. Over the counter drugs |
| rather than form. If they do interfere with your | | | | like aspirin and Advil may fall in this category. |
| daily life, the lenses may need to be removed. | | | | After surgery, you must keep your eye clean, |
| Radiation exposure can result in cataracts if the | | | | wash your hands before touching your eye, and |
| dose is high enough or accumulates over repeated | | | | use the prescribed medications to help minimize |
| exposure. | | | | the risk of infection. Serious infection can result in |
| The lens lies behind the colored iris and the pupil, | | | | loss of vision. Cataract surgery slightly increases |
| the black opening you see in the eye. The lens | | | | your risk of retinal detachment. Other eye |
| adjusts the eye's focus like the diaphragm | | | | disorders, such as high myopia (nearsightedness), |
| adjustable metal shutters on a camera, allowing us | | | | can further increase your risk of retinal |
| to see things clearly both up close and far away. | | | | detachment after cataract surgery. Retinal |
| The lens is made of mostly water with small | | | | detachments usually announce their onset with a |
| amounts of protein and other substances. Vitamin | | | | sudden increase in flashes (like brief lightening to |
| C and Glutathione have both been thought to | | | | the side) or floaters. Floaters are little "cobwebs" |
| delay cataract formation. Now there are questions | | | | or black spots that seem to float about in your |
| if pigments that also keep the retina healthy may | | | | field of vision. If you notice a sudden increase in |
| play a role in keeping the lens clear. | | | | floaters or flashes, call your optometrist |
| Smoking is the best thing you can do if you want | | | | immediately. A retinal detachment is a medical |
| to develop cataracts at a young age. Smoking | | | | emergency. If necessary, go to an emergency |
| also is associated with the other leading causes of | | | | service or hospital. Early treatment for retinal |
| blindness, glaucoma and central retinal | | | | detachment often can prevent permanent loss of |
| degeneration. Reducing your UV sun exposure by | | | | vision. |
| wearing quality sun glasses that meet A.N.S.I. | | | | For a short period of time after surgery, your |
| standards is helpful. Sun wear that wraps and | | | | eye doctor may ask you to use several eye |
| blocks sun exposure from the side is even more | | | | drops to help healing and decrease the risk of |
| helpful. Although research studies have given | | | | infection. You will need to wear an eye shield or |
| mixed results, time will probably bear out a | | | | eyeglasses to help protect your eye. Avoid |
| protective effect of antioxidants on the lens | | | | rubbing or pressing on your eye. Sun glasses will |
| tissue. Supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, | | | | be needed to protect your eyes from the bright |
| and special plant pigments likely will be shown to | | | | glare we have in Fort Collins and Northern |
| reduce cataract development. Eating foods that | | | | Colorado. When you are home, try to avoid |
| are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains | | | | bending over and lifting. You can walk and do light |
| and less refined foods with a lower tendency to | | | | household chores. In most cases, healing will be |
| cause sharp rises and falls in blood sugar are | | | | complete within eight weeks. Most of the time |
| associated with a decreased risk of cataract | | | | you can fill your new glasses prescription 2-3 |
| formation. Leafy green leafy vegetables, fruit, and | | | | weeks after surgery. Your doctor will schedule |
| other foods with antioxidants are always the best | | | | exams to check on your progress. Problems after |
| source of supplements. | | | | surgery are rare, but they can occur. These |
| Annual comprehensive dilated eye health exams | | | | problems can include infection, bleeding, |
| are vital to monitor for cataracts and allow your | | | | inflammation, leakage of the incision, swelling in the |
| optometrist to check for signs of retina | | | | back of the eye, and high pressure, With prompt |
| degeneration, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. | | | | medical attention, these problems can usually be |
| Early treatment and detection of eye disease | | | | treated successfully. |
| may save your sight and life! The most common | | | | Months or years after cataract surgery cell |
| symptoms of a cataract are cloudy or blurry | | | | growth can occur on the artificial lens obscuring |
| vision and problems driving at night due to halos | | | | vision. This is frequently referred to as after |
| and glare. Frequently, after years of minor | | | | cataracts. A simple, brief laser procedure done in |
| changes, patients developing cataracts will start to | | | | the office quickly resolves this problem. Cataracts |
| have rapid changes in their eye glass prescription | | | | surgery is one of the most successful procedures |
| as they become more nearsighted from the | | | | done today. While you don't want to rush into any |
| changes in the lens. | | | | surgery you can rest assured knowing if your |
| Cataracts do not require surgery until they | | | | vision does become problematic you have a good |
| interfere with your lifestyle. In rare cases, the lens | | | | treatment option available. Medicare will cover |
| can rupture causing serious problems. This is | | | | cataract surgery when your eyesight has |
| almost unheard of today as eye doctors are | | | | degraded to a designated level. Many types of |
| widely accessible in all areas of the United States. | | | | vision insurance, including Vision Service Plan, |
| A new eyeglasses prescription, brighter lighting, | | | | provide coverage of cataract surgery under |
| anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses can all | | | | some of their policies. You will need to check with |
| be used to help in the interim period. Cataract | | | | your provider to find out what is covered under |
| surgery has a success rate over 95% today and | | | | your plan. Some types of lens implants are usually |
| replaces the lens with an artificial implant. | | | | excluded. |
| Frequently your prescription for distance will be | | | | |