How Cataracts Develop
A
cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens,
located behind the iris (or colored part of the eye) works just like
the lens of a camera- focusing light images on the retina, which send
the images to your brain. The
human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded so
clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury,
certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. But,
in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process. A
cataract is not a "film" over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will
make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old,
clouded lens and provide a replacement lens. There are several
replacement lenses available today ranging in price and functionality.
Dr. Tschoepe and his staff will explain the various lenses and
recommend a lens to fit your particular lifestyle and vision needs. A
cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, bright colors
become dull, or seeing at night is more difficult. It may also be why
the reading glasses or bifocals that used to help you read, or do other
simple tasks, no longer seem to help. Unfortunately, cataracts can't be
prevented, but removing the cataract and permanently replacing it with
a high quality silicone lens can restore your vision and in many ways,
significantly improve your quality of life. The time to have your
cataracts removed is when the quality of your vision begins to put
limits on your activities and enjoyment of life. Cataract Surgery | Cataract
surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and usually requires just
a few hours of your time from start to finish. Your eye will be treated
with anesthetic prior to the procedure so you'll feel little, if any,
discomfort. First, a tiny incision will be made in the eye allowing
your surgeon to use a small instrument (about the size of a pen tip) to
break up and wash away the cloudy cataract. Once the cataract is
removed, a replacement lens or IOL will be inserted through the same
tiny incision and set into its permanent position. | |
Choosing the Best Replacement Lens for Your Vision Monofocal
IOLs have been used for over 50 years and have proven to provide clear
distance vision for years and years and are considered a permanent
replacement lens. Multifocal IOLs have been thoroughly studied and are
designed to replace monofocal IOLs in the years to come. Both types of
IOLs are designed to replace the natural lens of your eye. Both have
advantages and disadvantages. It is very important that you decide
which lens is right for you, because it is considered unwise and risky
by most eye surgeons to attempt to replace an IOL once it has been
placed into permanent position. The following chart will help you
compare the features of both types of IOLs. |
