If you have cataracts, the naturally clear lenses of your eyes have developed a build-up of proteins. These proteins gradually clump together, causing your vision to become cloudy and dull. Cataracts may also cause you to be extra sensitive to light, to have trouble seeing at night, or to see bright colors as faded and yellowed instead.
Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this is due to normal eye changes that happen beginning around age 40, when normal proteins in the lens start to break down; people over 60 usually start to have some clouding of their vision.
If these symptoms have started to interfere with your life, it may be time to for cataract surgery to remove your natural cloudy lens and replace it with a new clear lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States, with almost three million surgeries completed each year.
Benefits of Cataract Surgery
- Restore your youthful vision.
- Say goodbye to cloudy vision! Once the cataract is removed, your vision will be clearer, colors will be sharpened, and you’ll be able to see better at night.
- Reduce or eliminate your dependency on glasses.
- With a variety of lenses available, you’ll be able to choose the lens that best fits your lifestyle. With monofocal lenses and toric lenses, for instance, you’ll see objects far away clearly but may need glasses for reading; a variety of multifocal lenses are designed so that most patients won’t need glasses after surgery.
- Renew your enjoyment.
- Cataract surgery allows you to return to the activities that you enjoy most, from reading and driving to enjoying the great outdoors, uninhibited.
- Really see what’s important to you.
- Do you have kids or grandkids? Furry companions? After cataract surgery, you’ll be able to experience life with them in full color.
What to Expect During Surgery
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. During surgery, a small ultrasonic device is inserted into your cornea. The lens capsule, which is the front part of the lens envelope, is opened so that the lens material can be removed and, simultaneously, the small ultrasonic device is used to gently wash away the hardened yellow proteins that cause the cataract.
A new, intraocular lens is inserted into the eye and will remain there, which provides your new clear vision; you won’t be able to feel or sense the new lens. Once it’s in place where the old lens used to exist, your cornea will self-heal.
Recovery from cataract surgery is generally quick and involves self-administered medicated eye drops for the first few weeks after surgery, though most patients achieve better vision within 24 hours.
The Eye Center of Northern Colorado recognizes that your eyes are unique, and so is your lifestyle. That’s why we offer several lens options to meet your overall vision goals after cataract surgery. Read all about them here, and schedule your cataract appointment with our vision experts.