Clearing the myths on Cataracts
Cataracts occur in the focusing lens of the eye. Cataracts are a natural aging process that can affect the clarity of vision for both near and far vision. Typically it is a very gradual change, clouding the vision and dimming color perception.
Symptoms of Cataracts
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Can be very mild or gradual-you may not notice vision changing especially if the cataract starts in one eye first
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Dimming of vision, or smoke filled room type vision
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Starburst effect or halo’s around lights at night time
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Double vision in one eye
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Poor vision in dim light or poor night vision
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Fading of colors
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More frequent (every 6-8 months) changes in your eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
Click here to watch a 30 second video clip on Cataracts
FAQS on Cataracts!
- 20.5 million americans age 40 and above have cataracts.
- Some children are born with cataracts
- Some develop cataracts from medications (typically steroid medications)
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Cataract surgery is the Most performed Surgery in the U.S.A.
- About 1.6 million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S.A. every year
Cataract Treatment Options
Primary Eye Care Associates offers the next evolution in cataract surgery and management…
Medications to Reverse Cataracts
There are medications in clinical studies now that have been shown to decrease the density of certain cataracts. However at the time of writing this blog, nothing is available commercially in the U.S.A.
Natural ophthalmic for Cataracts available at Primary Eye Care Associates in Chicago, is a holistic homeopathic medication that can reduce the progress of cataracts. Call our clinic today at 773-735-6090 to learn more about eye drops, sprays, and dissolvable pellets to help slow down the rate of growth cataracts.
Polarized high light energy blocking sunglasses can help to reduce the rate of growth of cataracts as well.
Learn more about polarized sunglasses here.
Monitoring
Cataracts that are not in the way of everyday lifestyle function, in other words, not typically ‘bothering’ the patients’ eye sight, can be monitored for rapid growth change. Not all cataracts require treatment or surgery. If the best pair of glasses and/or contact lenses provide very good functional vision for you, monitoring the cataract for further growth can be considered. Some cataracts grow very rapidly other can grow over 10 plus years.
Surgery for Cataracts in Chicago
Today there are two types of Cataract Surgery. Both procedures take about 10-15 minutes, and you are awake during the procedure. One eye is always operated on first, with the other eye operated on about two weeks after the first. Typically the eye that has the worse vision from cataracts is operated on first.
Standard “blade” cataract surgery
- Surgeon makes a micro- incision into the cornea (the clear part of your eye
- Medical instrument is inserted and the cataract is removed via ‘grinding’ the cataract/lens into small micro particles and removed via suction at the same time
- Single focus lens is intserted, usually with the same power as your eye glasses so that you don’t need glasses to see far away after the surgery
- You will need glasses for reading and computer use, or astigmatism if you had prior to cataract surgery
LensSx Laser Assisted or “FEMTO-Laser” assisted cataract surgery
- Laser makes a micro-incision, very precise and accurate (no blade used)
- Laser is used to precisely grind the cataract into smaller pieces
- Medical instrument (phaco-immulsification) inserted into this incision and the cataract is simply removed via suction (surgeon in the eye much less time, less complications)
- Astigmatism can be corrected at the same time
- Faster healing
Lens Implants
The focusing lens in the eye with a cataract, is much like looking through a dirty window. It’s hard to focus and/or appreciate dark contrast. Things you are looking at appear dim, dull and washed out. Night vision halo and glare can make it difficult to function at night time. Removing the cataract as described above, is like removing a dirty window, and replacing it with a clear clean new window…we call this the cataract lens implant.
Monofocal implant
- Can put your prescription to see far away into this implant; this means no more glasses after cataract surgery to see far away! Just reading /computer glasses will be needed.
- Great crisp high definition
- No additional fees to the patient (most insurance contribute most of the fees for this procedure)
Multifocal/Astigmatism/Premium Lens implant
- Latest advanced technology
- Both your bifocal and distance prescriptions can be put into this implant; this means no more glasses to see near or far! Computer glasses MAY be needed.
- Some contrast dulling may occur
- Additional fees patient pays out of pocket to pay for the premium lens implant.
