Before we know it, the air will be getting cooler and the days shorter – and the holidays will be upon us. During this joyous time of the year, the last thing you want to worry about is your cataracts and worsening vision preventing you from being able to fully enjoy your time with family and friends.
Planning for a needed cataract surgery before the holiday season can help you avoid this dilemma, not to mention, you’ll use up leftover FSA funds, avoid cataracts worsening in poor winter weather, and promote a better overall quality of life.
What Are Cataracts and How Do You Treat Them?
As you age, proteins begin to build up and clump together in the eye’s lens, preventing light from passing clearly through the lens and obscuring vision. These protein deposits are known as cataracts and are a normal part of the aging process.
When a cataract has progressed to the point that it is interfering with normal, everyday functions, such as driving or reading, surgery is often the recommended course of action.
When you come to Anne Arundel Eye Center, our goal is not only to treat the cataract, but to get you back to doing the things you love. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. We have multiple options to enhance your near or far vision, including special lenses that can often give you a range of vision beyond what it was before the cataracts formed. Approximately 90 percent of cataract surgery patients report better vision following the surgery.
Why Treat Cataracts Now?
The clearer vision associated with cataract surgery provides many quality of life benefits including better near and distant vision – making colors brighter and making it easier to read, work on your computer, watch TV, and even drive. As well, according to a 2022 study in The Medical Journal of Australia, people over the age of 65 who received timely surgery for cataracts in both eyes not only increased their visual acuity, but minimized their risk of falls and injuries related to falls. This is because with a cataract, the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, which can significantly interfere with vision, leading to falls and injuries.
Not to mention, vision changes caused by cataracts may become more noticeable during the winter months. “Dim lighting caused by late sunrise and early sunset can make vision changes from cataracts more noticeable,” says Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, Consultative Optometrist at Anne Arundel Eye Center. “Also poor weather tends to cause glare and blur from cataracts to be more bothersome.” Taking care of cataract surgery prior to the winter season will help you avoid these worsening conditions for untreated cataracts.
Plus, if you have funds left in a FSA account, taking care of a cataract surgery before yearend will put you at ease from losing those funds if not used. Anne Arundel Eye Center also offers two cataract surgery elective additions: LenSx Laser Assisted Surgery and Multifocal Lens Implants. LenSx Laser Assisted Surgery is a blade free procedure that additionally addresses astigmatism during cataract surgery, while Multifocal Lens Implants offer an expanded view over the standard lens implant, causing many patients to find that their dependence on glasses is decreased significantly after surgery. As these optional add-ons are not covered by insurance carriers and are out-of-pocket expenses, they are a great way to use up extra FSA funds.
So – believe it or not – it’s already time to schedule your surgery appointments prior to the holidays. If you treat yourself now, you won’t have to worry about squeezing in a much-needed appointment later, and you’ll be able to fully connect with the ones you love before the New Year.
Want to get holiday-ready? Call Anne Arundel Eye Center at 410-224-2010 and let us help you restore your vision. We’re dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.