Surgical Treatments

Cataract surgery is generally considered whenever cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with daily activities. The surgery involves removing the diseased lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant called an intraocular lens. Your surgeon may choose to use one of the intraocular lenses made by Bausch & Lomb.

What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?

Common symptoms of cataracts include

• Painless blurring of vision
• Frequent prescription changes for corrective lenses
• Glare and haloes
• Colors looking dull and brownish
• Poor night vision
• Both sensitivity to light and finding lighting too dim

 

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts are a degenerative form of eye disease in which the lens gradually becomes opaque and vision mists over. While cataracts can occur as the result of other eye diseases, they mostly develop due to age. In fact, it is believed that everyone would have cataracts if we lived long enough. Currently, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among adults in the United States.

Are there Other Causes of Cataracts?

Less common causes of cataracts include

• Heredity
• Associated birth defects
• Chronic disease, such as diabetes
• Excessive use of steroid medications
• Eye injury 

 

Can Cataracts be Prevented?

While there is no way to prevent cataracts, there are several things you can do to limit or slow their formation. For instance, unstable molecules, known as free radicals, can damage cells in the eye, potentially causing problems such as cataracts. Studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins and minerals may help combat free radicals. Ask your physician or eye care professional whether vitamin supplements are right for you. Also, protecting your eyes from strong sunlight may slow the formation of age-related cataracts.

How Can You Correct Cataracts?

There are no medications, eyedrops, exercises, or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear. However, they can be successfully treated with surgery.