What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are the most common disorder of the aging eye. The cataract is a clouding or opacity of the normal lens inside the eye. Most adults get some degree of cataract formation over the years.

Factors which can contribute to this formation include:

• diabetes
• smoking
• alcohol consumption
• exposure to ultraviolet light
• some medications

Cataracts can be inherited or secondary to trauma or chronic eye disease.

Know the Symptoms

The development of a cataract is usually a gradual process that many people do not even notice until they are informed of its existence by their eye doctor.

However, there are some definite symptoms that may become apparent:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Difficulty seeing at night, particularly when driving
• Glare or halos from oncoming headlights
• Colors begin to seem faded or dull
• Sensitivity to light

With some types of cataracts you may experience, for a short time, improved vision called “second sight”. However, it’s short lived and the cloudiness will soon worsen.

Age is not the only cause of cataracts. Trauma or injury to the eye, certain medications such as Prednisone or cortisone, diabetes and other less common medical conditions may also cause cataracts.

Treatment

The process that leads to the development of a cataract cannot be reversed by treatment.

Usually, the most practical and effective solution is surgical removal of the clouded lens of the eye (cataract) and replacement with a highly precise intraocular lens implant.

Because the measurements to determine the power of the lens implant are so critical, Sneed Eye Associates uses the most accurate technology to measure and calculate this power. There are several choices of intraocular lens implants, and each must be considered on an individual basis to determine the best result for each patient.

Surgery

Cataract surgery is micro-surgery, which means that it is performed under a high-powered operating microscope.

This surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in this country and at Sneed Eye Associates. It is also one of the most successful procedures.

Cataract surgery is conveniently performed next door at the Outpatient Surgery Center, which means that you do not have to stay in the hospital overnight.

All equipment is the latest state-of-the-art technology. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, and patients can return home immediately following their procedure.

New Options for Cataract Surgery

With new technology lens implants, cataract treatment has moved beyond simply restoring vision loss.

Multi-focal or accommodating IOLs can provide the vision to do everyday things without being dependent on glasses.

Did you know that you can enjoy crisp, clear, glasses-free vision from near to far?

Unlike standard cataract replacement lenses, multifocal IOL lenses such as ReSTOR® correct your cataracts and give you back your full range of vision.  They focus like your eyes natural lens.

• These implants are designed to correct for both distance and near vision, and employ three different designs to approach the problem of presbyopia, the inability to see clearly at near, if the distance vision is sharp.

• Most persons over the age of 45 face the problem of needing glasses for near vision-either reading glasses or bifocals. Presbyopia is a common problem!

• The evaluation of patients for this lens implant is more complex and expensive than the standard testing. The implants are also more expensive than single-vision implants.

• Medicare does not cover the cost of refractive services, such as these presbyopia correcting implants. Therefore, there is an additional cost that must be paid “out-of-pocket” for this remarkable new technology.