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What is a Cataract? |
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A cataract is the clouding of the eye's normally
clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed
for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain.
Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if
the cataract does grow and begin to affect your
vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.
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In most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible.
New techniques developed over the past decade
have made cataract surgery one of the safest and
most successful procedures available in terms of
restoring quality of life to patients. Each year
there are more than 1.6 million of these
delicate eye surgeries performed in the United States. |
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How do you know if you have a cataract? Some
people notice a gradual painless blurring of
vision, double vision in one eye or fading or
yellowing of colors. Sensitivity to glare and/or
bright light or trouble driving at night is
commonly caused by cataracts. Frequent changes
to your glasses or contact lens prescriptions
may also be a symptom of cataract. |
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There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear. Cataract
surgery is most often done as an outpatient
procedure under local anesthesia. The cloudy
natural lens can be replaced with an artificial
lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In
most cases, the improvement in the patient's
vision is profound.
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Modern Cataract Surgery |
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Cataract surgery has dramatically evolved over
the years. Contrary to popular belief, cataracts
are not removed using lasers; rather, a process known as
phacoemulsification allows cataracts to be
removed through tiny, self-sealing incisions
that typically do not require any stitches.
Microsurgical instruments are used to gently
dissolve and remove the cloudy lens. Once the
lens is removed, a small foldable
intraocular
lens is inserted and unfolds to replace
the cataract. These highly advanced lenses can be either
conventional (monofocal) or specialty
(multifocal and toric) lenses.
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While your choice was previously limited to
selecting a lens for
either distance or near vision, and using eye
glasses for everything else,
specialty mutlifocal lenses
can now provide good distance
and near vision.
Our goal when using one of these
specialty lenses is to provide you with a
full range of vision, thus minimizing your
dependence on reading glasses
or bifocals. |
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Specialty lenses are not for everyone
and some additional testing is required to
determine if you are a good candidate for them. The majority of patients who have
chosen specialty lenses are absolutely amazed with the
results and would recommend the procedure to their
friends and family who have cataracts.
For patients with
astigmatism who
are having cataract surgery, you now have an additional
option; a toric lens that makes it possible to
treat the
cataract and correct your astigmatism at the same time. Your doctor will
recommend the option that is best for you.
Although most insurance companies cover the cost for
removal of your cataract, specialty and toric lens
implants typically are not covered. If you are interested in a specialty or toric
lens, please understand that you will pay an additional
fee per eye, and financing is available.
Click here to learn more about specialty lenses. |
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