Cataract surgery
is the most frequently performed operation in the United States. In it’s simplest form, cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a crystal clear lens implant, called an intraocular lens (IOL). Today, more than a million IOLs are implanted every year in the United States alone. Under local anesthesia, a small incision is made on in the edge of the cornea and high frequency ultrasound vibrations gently dissolve the natural lens into small pieces. These fragments are removed and replaced with the IOL. The thin, posterior layers of the lens, called the lens capsule, is left behind. [Read more…]
When Should My Cataract be Removed?
Our eyes age, just like the rest of our body. However, they age differently. Over the years, the eye’s natural lens will grow cloudy as proteins build up and begin to clump together, which can obscure normal vision. This is what is referred to as a caract and is a natural part of the aging process. By the age of 80, more than half of all Americans will have a cataract. It is very treatable and nothing to really worry about. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed operation in the United States and, with a 98% success rate, it is also has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Still, that doesn’t answer the one question on every patient’s mind…
When Should My Cataract be Removed?
The answer: When it starts giving you visual symptoms. If it’s not bothering you, leave it alone.
Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the be-all and end-all answer you were looking for, but it’s the truth. Every cataract case is different, and every cataract must be treated on a case-by-case basis. Surgery is most often recommended only when the cataract has begun to affect daily activity: reading, driving, working, etc.
Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.
To find out if you are ready for cataract surgery, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
A consultation with board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles will guide you through the treatment process and help you determine when cataract surgery makes the most sense for you. Dr. Boles and the experienced staff at the Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) are a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts.Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, AAEC’s state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone. Dr. Boles and the staff at AAEC have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. They can help you too.
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, please contact Dr. Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010. AAEC is staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals who will help guide you on your healing journey.
When Should I Have My Cataract Removed?
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.
You can also follow AAEC on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
Separating Cataract Fact from Fiction
Anyone who has ever visited our blog before knows that cataracts are a natural part of the aging process. If we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts at some point in our lives. They are not preventable, but they are very treatable. In fact, more than 90% of people who undergo cataract surgery regain useful vision.
Click Here to learn more about cataract treatment.
Cataract Facts
- Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the world.
- Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.
- By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have had cataracts.
- Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed operation in the United States.
Cataract Fiction
Despite all of the information available online, there are still several common misconceptions surrounding cataracts and cataract treatment. These misconceptions include:
- Cataracts can be prevented. As we have already mentioned, there is no way to prevent cataracts from forming. It is a natural part of the aging process. Don’t be fooled by miracle drugs that claim they can prevent or dissolve cataracts. No such medication has ever been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Close work makes cataracts worse. Cataracts are not caused or worsened by how you use your eyes. Close work, like reading or sewing, will not make a cataract worse. It may make the cataract more noticeable, which is probably how this common misconception began.
- Cataracts are reversible. Sorry. The only way to treat cataracts is through cataract surgery. Once your cataract begins affecting your quality of life, cataract surgery is your best option.
- Cataract surgery is dangerous. This could not be further from the truth. Besides being the most frequently performed operation in the United States, this surgery has a 98% success rate, making it the most successful surgery performed today.
- Cataracts grow back. Sorry. Wrong again. Occasionally, patients develop what is known as an after cataract, which results from the growth and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the capsule after cataract surgery. Eventually, these cells migrate to the center of the posterior capsule, causing blurred or blurry vision.
Cataract Treatment in Annapolis
The Anne Arundel Eye Center is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. Dr. Boles and the eye care specialists at AAEC have helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. So, if your cataract begins affecting your quality of life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Boles at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions about Cataract Treatment in Annapolis or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, 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 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.
Cataract Treatment in Annapolis
As we grow older, our eyes age along with the rest of our body. The end result: the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as a cataract. Don’t worry; it’s a natural part of the aging process. If we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts at some point in our lives. Today, more than nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older are affected by cataracts. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will develop a cataract. Fortunately, cataracts are very treatable.
Cataract Treatment in Annapolis
Every year, more than three million Americans undergo cataract surgery, making it the most frequently performed surgery in the country. 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, including driving.
Click Here to learn about the LenSx Laser Surgery for cataract treatment.
“The LenSx Laser offers significant improvement of precision, safety, and accuracy for even better results and I recommend this as an option for all of my patients,” said board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles.
Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), led by Dr. Boles, is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases. Dr. Boles and the eye care specialists at AAEC have helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. They can help you too.
Cataract Signs and Symptoms
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- ‘Halos’ — the eyes become dazzled by bright light
- Difficulty driving at night
- Colors may become faded
- Eyeglasses prescription changes frequently
If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with AAEC as soon as possible. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention.
If you have any questions about Cataract Treatment in Annapolis or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, 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 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.