Cataracts

The specific cause of cataracts is unknown, although it may be a result of injury to the eye, certain medications, illnesses (such as diabetes), prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light or smoking. Patients can reduce their risk of developing cataracts by avoiding smoking, prolonged sun exposure and by eating a diet high in antioxidants.

Patients with cataracts often do not experience any symptoms when the condition first develops. Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience:

If visual impairment begins to interfere with your ability to read, work or do the things you enjoy, you may want to consider treatment to restore your vision. This may be done for a while through new glasses, strong bifocals and other visual aids, but cataract surgery is usually needed to correct this condition. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States, and can be performed quickly and easily with a success rate of over 90 percent and a minimal risk of complications.

Cataract surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves numbing the eyes with anesthesia and then making a tiny incision into which an ultrasonic probe is inserted. The probe breaks up, or emulsifies, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces and then suctions them out of the eye. Once the cloudy lens has been removed, a new artificial lens is implanted into the eye. This lens is known as an intraocular lens (IOL), and can often be inserted through the same incision that the old lens was removed from.

Cataract surgery usually takes less than an hour to perform and is painless for most patients. Most patients are able to go home the same day, but may experience itching, mild discomfort, fluid discharge and sensitivity to light and touch for several days after.

There are several different types of IOLs available to help each patient achieve the best possible results from his/her cataract surgery. New technological advances have made vision after cataract surgery better than ever and allow many patients to no longer need to rely on glasses or contact lenses. 

Standard IOLs replace the clouded lens and provide monofocal vision correction, meaning that the eyes are corrected for either distance or near vision, and that glasses or contact lenses are often still needed. However, monofocal lenses are an effective and reliable choice for cataract patients as they offer improved contrast sensitivity and night driving along with functional vision.

Some premium IOLs offer patients multifocal vision correction, meaning that they can see clearly at all distances. These lenses simulate the natural focusing ability of the eye, allowing patients to seamlessly shift focus between nearby and distant objects. Premium IOLs feature innovative hinges, which allow them to move with the eyes muscle and reduce or even eliminate the need for further vision correction after surgery.