Laser & Traditional Cataract Surgery
Got cataracts?
You're not alone, by age 65, over 90% of people have cataracts.
(Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Medicine).
At the Hallandale Eye Center, we believe the best way to approach your cataracts and treatment options is to ask questions, and learn what all you options are so you can make a well informed decision that will ultimately affect your vision for the rest of your life...
This is a decision that can only be made once and cannot be reversed once surgery is complete.
Learn More About Cataracts:
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What are Cataracts anyway?
Click this symbol above to play sound.
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens in your eye. As you age, proteins in your lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy. The lens is the clear part of your eye that is behind your iris and pupil, it helps focus light on the retina which let's you see clearly. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily and vision is blurred. The growth of cataracts is slow and gradual, you may not even notice you have a cataract in it's early stages.
Causes & Risk Factors:
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Aging - Cataracts are mostly caused by aging but there are other factors that can increase your risk for getting cataracts.
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Heavy Drinking
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Smoking
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Obesity
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High Blood pressure
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Previous Eye Injuries
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Too much UV Light / Sun exposure
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Family History
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Diabetes (Cataracts are 10 times more common in diabetic patients than in the general population)
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Medications - Secondary Cataracts can be caused by medications (such as Corticosteroids)
Symptoms:
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Colors seem faded or washed out... almost as if a veil is covering everything
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Blurry or fuzzy vision that can not be completely corrected with an eyeglass prescription
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Seeing halos or a lot of glare when driving at night
Clear Vision Without Cataracts
Clear Vision Without Cataracts
Simulation of Vision With Cataracts
Simulation of Vision With Cataracts
Treatment:
There are no vitamins, medications, or lifestyle changes that can get rid of cataracts once you have them, the only way to treat cataracts is to remove them surgically. Without treatment, cataracts will continue to worsen, causing continual loss of vision.
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There is a "sweet spot" for when the best time to have surgery is. Surgery is generally not done in the very early stages of your cataracts... it has to affect your vision to a point where it's interfering with you daily activities. That being said, you don't want to wait too long before seeking treatment, your impaired vision puts you at risk for:
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Falls
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Injuries
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May affect your ability to renew your driver's license (even with corrective eyeglasses)
Ready for a consult?
If you wait too long, your cataracts can harden to a point where it becomes more difficult for the surgeon to break down and remove the cataract (it almost becomes 'gum-like') adding unnecessary surgical risks.
Make sure to keep follow up appointments with Dr. Moshe Yalon so he can create a care-plan and discuss when appropriate timing for your surgery will be. Knowledge and preparation can be a large component in helping patients feel confident about their treatment options and choices made. Questions are a natural part of the pre-operative process and we welcome any questions you may have during these visits.
This Video Helps Explain Some Basic Information on Cataract Surgery
Astigmatism & Presbyopia
How can they affect my Cataract Surgery?
Astigmatism is when your cornea is shaped more like a football instead of a round ball. This irregular curvature is common among all age groups and causes blurry vision that can be corrected with glasses.
Presbyopia: As we age we lose elasticity in the lens of our eye making it difficult to focus on objects nearby. Most people generally start feeling this change after age 40. The blurry vision can be corrected with glasses.
If you have astigmatism and/or presbyopia, our eye doctors at The Hallandale Eye Center may be able to treat all your vision needs at the time of your cataract surgery with different lens options, making you as independent as possible from eyeglasses.
Now that we know what Cataracts are, below are the surgical options available at The Hallandale Eye Center.
Traditional Cataract Surgery VS. Laser Cataract Surgery
The video below explains and shows the differences between
Traditional Cataract Surgery and Laser Cataract Surgery.
Intraocular Lenses (IOL's)
Once the cataract is removed, your surgeon will need to insert a new artificial lens. The lens you choose will impact your vision for the rest of your life.
Choose the IOL that will best fit your daily lifestyle needs.
