Cataracts
By age 65, more than half of Africans will have had a cataract, yet many people still do not know what they are or what causes them. Cataracts are common among those over age 50 and are characterized by clouding of the eye’s lens. This results in blurry vision, poor night vision, double vision, alteration of color perception, and seeing glare and haloes. Cataracts are degenerative changes in the structure of the eye that form when protein in the lens begins to clump together, clouding a small area of the eye. This cloud will continue to grow and interfere with vision. They can occur in one or both eyes. While the most common cause of cataracts is age, they can also be caused by eye trauma, certain medications, and various environmental and lifestyle factors. One can be born with cataracts as well.
At first, a cataract only affects a small portion of the eye’s lens. Over time, the cataract grows, often so gradually that the patient does not notice it. When the entire lens has become clouded, ophthalmologists refer to the cataract as a “ripe” or “mature” cataract. At this stage, cataracts can cause severe vision problems.
The only cure for cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically lasts from thirty minutes to forty minutes. A small incision is made into the cornea or sclera and micro instruments are used to remove your cataract. The cataract is replaced with an intraocular implant to restore your vision. There are various options in regards to the type of intraocular implant, or IOL, that one can select from depending on one’s visual goals, lifestyle, and need.
Discussion of the various lens options with our doctors will provide you with the selection of lens that best fits your lifestyle and needs.
After Cataract Surgery, patients might feel mild discomfort. Usually, though, over-the-counter pain relievers are sufficient for numbing and any pain or itching you might feel. Vision can be improved as early as the day after surgery, but the eye rarely can take months to heal.