What You Need to Know About Cataracts
Cataracts develop naturally and often go unnoticed in the early stages as they show little to no symptoms. Advanced cataracts can begin to impair your eyesight with what appears to be a veil covering your field of vision. This blurred vision is associated with advanced stages of cataracts, and cannot be corrected with eyeglasses, requiring surgery to restore clear vision.
If your vision has gotten to the point that it’s problematic and challenging to deal with, Dr. Macha and his associates can refer you to an ophthalmologist for surgery. We are here to help co-manage your aftercare and ensure you’re healing normally.
Cataract surgery is a safe and routine procedure that can be performed on most eyes to remove the cloudy lens and give you clear vision again. If you need surgery, we will refer you to an ophthalmologist that specializes in the procedure.
The surgeon uses ultrasound to break up and remove the old, cloudy lens and replaces it with a clean, synthetic intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure uses local anesthetic so you won’t feel any pain, and only takes around 10–15 minutes.
Most newer IOLs offer UV protection, but because of the increased amount of light that reaches your eyes following cataract surgery, you should wear sunglasses as much as possible after.
After the procedure, you’ll likely be given prescription eye drops for a few weeks while your eyes heal. Most patients report a significant improvement in their vision following cataract surgery, and only need glasses for reading.
Although cataracts develop naturally as a part of aging, some lifestyle choices can help delay their onset:
- Wear proper UV protection, like sunglasses and a hat with a brim.
- Quit smoking.
- Eat healthily and ensure your diet incorporates a good amount of nutrients that benefit your eye health.
- Undergo a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year.
