As we get older, cataracts become a problem experienced by a great number of people just like you. Cataracts are a common cause of vision problems among people in their 50’s and 60’s and they are actually a major cause of senior eye problems and vision loss. More than 20 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts and more than half of all Americans develop cataracts by age 80. A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of vision. For many patients, cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision.
Symptoms of Cataracts
Symptoms of cataracts may cause a clouding or blurring of your vision and feel that you might need a change of eyeglasses. You may notice that it is not as easy to see well and comfortably in dim illumination, such as for night driving. You may notice that colors look faded and you may be bothered by glare, haloes, light sensitivity and a continuing decrease in your vision. These are the visual symptoms that are common for those patients whose crystalline lens has clouded and formed a cataract. If you are experiencing one of more of these symptoms please be sure to let your eye doctor know at your eye exam.
During cataract surgery we remove the cataract and replace it with a clear permanent lens implant in order to correct your vision. Among seniors and “baby boomers,” cataract surgery is one of the safest, most effective, predictable and common operations performed the U.S. with more than 2.5 million people having cataract surgery and lens implants each year. At Eye Surgeons of Worcester, our cataract surgeons perform the cataract operation procedure on an outpatient basis at one of our affiliated, comfortable, AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care), Medicare and Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensed ambulatory surgery centers.
Preparation for your cataract operation will begin with a few sets of drops being placed in your eye to dilate your pupil. Additionally, your eye will be treated with anesthetic drops to numb the surface of your eye so that you will feel little if any discomfort during your cataract surgery. In addition you will be given medicines to help you relax if desired. The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes and is not uncomfortable. During your preoperative measurement visit, your cataract surgeon may recommend performing your cataract surgery with a laser in order to provide a more gentle procedure. Also, your cataract surgeon and the staff will discuss choosing a cataract lens implant to correct your vision and help you see clearly. Our eye surgeons can use cataract lens implants to correct vision at distance, arm’s length and up close, as well as astigmatism, so that you are not dependent on glasses after cataract surgery. We will take the time necessary to answer all of your questions so you can relax on the day of your surgery.
We will arrange to see you within 24 hours of your cataract and lens implant procedure so we can examine you in order to confirm that you are healing and seeing as planned. The doctors will also prescribe some eye drops for you to use and will ask you to wear a protective shield, mainly at night, to remind you not to accidentally rub your eye. Although each patient will heal a little bit differently, the majority of patients having cataract surgery with the cataract surgeons at Eye Surgeons of Worcester are able to see well enough to return to their routine daily activities within a day or so after their operation.
