Cataract Diagnosis

Cataract Diagnosis and Treatment

July 31, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Typically caused by age, when the protein in the eye’s natural lens start to clump together and cloud, a cataract blocks the passage of light to the retina, which can cause vision problems. A cataract starts small and slowly grows over time.

“I like to compare it to the clear plastic window in the back of a convertible car,” said board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles, M.D. “After years of exposure to sun and weather, the plastic becomes yellow and cloudy.”

Types of Cataracts

Subcapsular Cataracts: Begins at the back of the lens. Most often seen in people with diabetes, high farsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa, or those taking high doses of steroids.
Nuclear Cataracts: Forms in the center, or nucleus, of the lens. Nuclear cataracts are a part of the natural aging process.
Cortical Cataracts: Forms in the lens cortex, gradually extending its spokes to the center of the lens. Most often seen in diabetics.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

Blurred or blurry vision
Double vision
Colors may seem faded
Difficulty seeing during the day because of glare
Difficulty driving at night, also because of glare
Frequent changes in eyeglasses prescription
Vision problems begin to affect daily activities

Cataract Diagnosis

If you notice any of the above signs and symptoms of cataracts, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – as soon as possible. Call your eye doctor right away is you have:

Severe eye pain
Sudden changes in your vision, such as loss of vision.

Your eye doctor will be able to diagnose your cataracts through a simple physical exam and by asking questions about your symptoms and past health.

Cataract Treatment

Watchful Waiting: Also known as the wait-and-see approach, watchful waiting is safe and completely appropriate in most cases of adult cataracts. Cataracts in children, meanwhile, should be dealt with right away.
Cataract Surgery: For most adults, cataract surgery is only needed when vision loss begins to affect quality of life. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and, in most cases, replacing it with a clear, intraocular lens implant (IOL). Cataract surgery is a painless outpatient procedure and has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.

Speak with your eye doctor to determine the best course of action in the treatment of your cataracts.

If you have any questions about Cataract Diagnosis and Treatment or wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Cataracts – When to call a Doctor WebMD

Eye Care News: Cataracts and Hip Fractures; are they Linked?

August 31, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A recent study found that people who had undergone cataract surgery had a 16% lower risk of hip fracture one year after the procedure.

Falls and the resulting bone fractures are a major cause of disability and death among the elderly. Every year in the United, 350,000 people experience a hip fracture. And by the year 2050, this number is expected to be as high as 650,000 hip fractures annually. That is nearly 1,800 hip fractures a day.

Hip Fracture Statistics

Fall-related injuries cost the United States more than $10 billion in healthcare costs in 2000 alone.

90% of all hip fractures in the United States are the result of a fall.

The cost of hip fracture care averages $26,912 per patient.

Only 25% of hip fracture patients make a full recovery.

40% of hip fracture patients require nursing home care.

50% of hip fracture patients need a cane or walker.

24% of hip fracture patients over the age of 50 pass away within 12 months of the injury.

Cataract Surgery & the Prevention of Hip Fractures

A new study suggests that cataract surgery could reduce the possibility of hip fractures in the elderly by as much as 23%. This makes sense considering vision impairment is one of the major risk factors for falls among the elderly.

“Cataract surgery has already been demonstrated to be a cost-effective intervention for visual improvement,” wrote researcher Victoria Tseng, MD, of Brown University, and colleagues in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “The results in this study suggest the need for further investigation of the additional potential benefit of cataract surgery as a cost-effective intervention to decrease the incidence of fractures in the elderly.”

Researchers studied the risk of hip fracture for one year among the more than 1 million Medicare patients age 65 and older who had been diagnosed with cataracts between 2002 and 2009. And of these individuals, 36.9% had cataract surgery during the study period.

13,976 people (1.3%) had a hip fracture during the study.

Researchers found that people who had undergone cataract surgery had a 16% lower risk of hip fracture one year after the procedure.

“In patients with severe cataract, the association between cataract surgery and lower odds of hip fracture was even stronger, with a 23% reduction in the adjusted odds of hip fracture in the cataract surgery group compared with the cataract diagnosis group,” wrote researchers.

What are Cataracts?

As we age, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This clouding is known as cataracts. This is a normal part of the aging process. If we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts at some point in our lives.

Anne Arundel Eye Center: Cataracts Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland

A regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts, Anne Arundel Eye Center offers a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision. Anne Arundel Eye Center provides complete medical eye exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care. Should you require surgery, your comfort and wellbeing are our top priority. From pre-op testing to post-op care, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

To learn more about Cataracts, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Cataract Surgery May Help Prevent Hip Fractures

Falls and Hip Fractures

National Cataract Awareness Month

June 27, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Did you know that June is Cataract Awareness Month? What better time than now to learn about cataracts: whom they affect, their symptoms, and how they are treated.

Nearly half of all adults will develop cataracts by age 80. The older we get, the more natural wear and tear our eyes suffer, resulting in clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as cataracts.

“I like to compare it to the clear plastic window on a convertible car,” said board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles, M.D. “After years of exposure to sun and weather, the plastic becomes yellow and cloudy.”

But there is no need to worry, cataracts are very treatable and can be detected long before the lens becomes cloudy. Early symptoms of cataracts include: blurry sight, double vision, halos, glare – the eyes becomes dazzled by bright light, difficulty driving at night, and frequently changing your glasses prescriptions.

If you feel as if you may be suffering from one or more of these symptoms, you should schedule an eye exam at your earliest convenience. Early detection is the key to slowing or even stopping the spread of cataracts.

If these symptoms persist, however, and become bothersome, surgery may be your best option. Cataract surgery involves removing the damaged lens and replacing it with a new synthetic one. Cataract surgery is a quick outpatient procedure that takes about 10 minutes (not including pre and post-op preparation) and has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.

So what are you waiting for? Schedule an eye exam today. Many eye conditions, including cataracts,that can become problematic are easily diagnosable and treatable with regular eye exams.

If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Cataract Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

June 15, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A cataract is clouding of the eye’s lens, which is located behind the iris and pupil. Cataracts, which are caused by protein buildup, usually only effects the elderly.

Cataracts are classified as one of three types:

• A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with diabetes, high farsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa, or those taking high doses of steroids, may develop a subcapsular cataract.

• A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms. This cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and is due to natural aging changes.

• A cortical cataract forms in the lens cortex and gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts.

This article from eHow.com provides a few helpful Ways to prevent cataracts:

1. Protect your eyes when out in bright sunlight. Wear sunglasses that block strong ultraviolet (UV) rays or a wide-brimmed hat that will shade your eyes from the sun.

2. Stop smoking. A strong link between smoking and the development of cataracts has been established. If you’re a smoker, smoking cessation will decrease your chances of getting a cataract.

3. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The proper intake of some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, has shown to help avoid getting a cataract. Try to get six servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

4. Manage your diabetes, if you suffer from this disease. Diabetes can cause eye problems, including the development of cataracts. Keeping your diabetes under control can help you avoid getting a cataract if you are diabetic.

5. Get thorough eye examinations regularly. For those 60 years of age and over, a comprehensive eye exam should be conducted every year.

Of course, if you do find yourself with the symptoms of cataracts, make an appointment to see an optometrist as soon as possible.

Cataracts Symptoms:

• Blurry sight, and occasionally, double vision

• ‘Halos’ — the eyes become dazzled by bright light, making night driving difficult

• Colors may become faded

• Frequent changes in glasses prescriptions

Cataract development may be detected early and avoided. Anne Arundel Eye Center offers complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

So if you think you may be at risk, schedule an eye appointment as soon as possible. If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!