Cataracts develop when the eye’s natural lens – which lies behind the iris and pupil – becomes cloudy. Normally age-related, it is rare to find someone over the age of 70 who does not have some level of cataract development. Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss or blindness in people over the age of 40.
In addition to detecting the development of cataracts, your comprehensive eye exam will also help in determining whether surgery is the right option for you. Your optometrist will discuss the findings with you and recommend the next steps.
Cataract surgery has an extremely high success rate and is a commonly performed procedure in Canada. Most modern cataract surgery procedures involve using a high-frequency ultrasound device to break up the cloudy lense into small pieces before they are gently removed using suction.
The removed lens is then replaced with a clear intraocular lense which functions just like your original lens; the clear intraocular lens is not susceptible to cataract development, therefore eliminating the issue completely.
A protective shield is placed over the eye to keep it safe as you recover. At Vivid Eye Care, we will make sure someone is following your progress every step of the way to ensure that your surgery is a complete success.
As mentioned earlier, cataracts typically develop due to aging; the older we get, the more likely we are to develop them. While there is no specific or definitive cause(s) for cataract development, research has found that those who tend to have a higher chance of developing cataracts often have other conditions, which include:
During the early stages of cataract development, the cloudiness in your vision may only affect a very small portion of the eye’s lense and can even go unnoticed. However, as the cataract continues to development it will cloud more of the lens, leading to noticeable symptoms such as:
Testing your eyes one at a time, a chart or viewing device is used to determine any signs of vision impairment which may be caused by the cataracs.
Your eyes are dilated using eye drops, allowing your optometrist to closely examine your retina for signs of cataract development.
A slit lamp uses an intense line of light to illuminate the cornea, iris and lens. Under magnification, this light can reveal any abnormalities which may be forming in these areas of the eye.
Our office is part of the Cranston Market Clinic and is just two minutes off of Deerfoot Trail. Vivid Eye Care is in the same plaza as the Sobey’s and Scotiabank.