There are several reasons why a cataract may form, but the most common is aging. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will develop a cataract. Over the years, proteins build up in the eye and clump together. This clumping – a cataract – prevents light from passing clearly through the lens, thus disrupting normal vision. And what every cataract patient wants to know is “When should I have my cataract removed?”
Determining If Cataract Surgery Is Necessary
Just because you have a cataract does not mean you need cataract surgery. At least, not just yet. As long as the cataract does not directly affect quality of life – inhibiting daily activities, like reading, driving, etc. – it does not need to be removed. However, when the cataract begins to affect your ability to perform simple, everyday tasks, then cataract surgery may be appropriate.
Just because you have a cataract does not mean it needs to be removed. At least not just yet.
To find out for sure, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist.
About Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and, in most cases, replacing it with a clear, intraocular lens implant (IOL). Under local anesthesia, your eye doctor will make a small incision on the side of your cornea and use ultrasound vibrations to break the natural lens into small pieces. These fragments are removed and a crystal clear IOL is put in its place. This lens is permanent and needs no special care.
Cataract surgery is a painless outpatient procedure with the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. It is also the most frequently performed surgery in the country. Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.
Cataract Treatment and Surgery in Annapolis
The Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. A consultation with board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles will help guide you through the treatment process and determine when cataract surgery makes the most sense for you.
Dr. Boles utilizes the LenSx® Laser, the most technologically advanced option for cataract patients today, to create a cataract surgery that’s 100% unique to each patient. Click Here to see the difference between traditional surgery and laser assisted cataract surgery.
If you have any questions about Cataract Treatment or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Click Here to fill out our contact form.
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For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.