Since cataracts are a natural part of aging, everyone will eventually experience them. They form when proteins inside the eye lens begin breaking down.
As the clumps of proteins grow larger, they begin to darken and block light from entering the eye. The breakdown of these proteins causes your vision to be blurry and colors to seem dull.
Certain factors can cause cataracts to develop quicker or earlier in life, but most people will start developing cataracts around age forty. Keep reading to learn more about who needs cataract surgery!
Cataract Symptoms
There are many different symptoms that can result from cataracts. The most obvious symptom of a cataract is cloudy or blurry vision.
Many people with cataracts experience decreased vision at night, as their eyes are already struggling to gather light. If you have cataracts, you may also notice glare or halos around lights.
The cataract abnormally refracts the light and can block some of it from reaching the retina. The retina is a photosensitive tissue at the back of your eye that is responsible for creating signals so you can see.
Cataracts also affect the way you see colors. The cloudiness of the lens often makes you perceive colors as yellowish and can cause the contrast of colors to become muddied.
Initially, you will likely be able to manage cataract symptoms with prescription glasses and minor lifestyle adjustments. However, once the cataract symptoms begin to affect your quality of life, your eye doctor will likely recommend cataract surgery.
During your routine eye exams, your eye doctor can look at your eye’s lens and determine if you have a cataract. They will be able to inform you when your cataracts have become advanced enough to warrant surgery.
How Cataract Surgeons Remove Cataracts
During cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon breaks up your natural, cloudy lens and removes it. They then replace your natural lens with a new, clear artificial lens device called an intraocular lens or IOL.
First, your cataract surgeon will numb your eyes with drops. Then, they will create a small opening in the cornea.
Through the small opening, your cataract surgeon will use a probe designed to break up the lens inside the eye. The emulsifying probe works by emitting high-frequency sound tuned to disrupt the structure of the lens but not the surrounding structures of the eye.
Next, they will use a suction tool to remove the pieces. Then your cataract surgeon will insert the IOL into the membrane that held the original lens and position it in the proper placement.
The small opening in the cornea will naturally close on its own, without the need for stitches. Depending on which IOL you select, you may or may not need glasses after.
Premium IOLs significantly reduce your dependence on glasses after cataract surgery and can even replace glasses entirely!
Do you want to learn if it may be time for you to have cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Hauppauge, NY, today!
