CATARACT SURGERY

In our eye we have a natural lens. Much like a camera this transparent lens helps bend the light and display an image on the  back-segment of the eye called the retina.  This wall, called the retina, is filled with light-sensitive cells then sends signals to the brain and allows us to perceive the world around us. 

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Cataracts is the most common eye disease in the world and something that most will develop during their lifetime. Cataracts is simply clouding of the natural transparent lens. It can be described as looking through a dirty, foggy or dusty glass window. The images that one’s sees, start to look blurry, yellowish, and colors become faded and less vibrant. Many will also experience that their night vision deteriorates more and more over time and that they need require extra light when reading. Some even become sensitive to light, something that is most noticed when driving at night with oncoming headlights. Others will experience double vision or even see “halos” around lights. 

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Cataracts in first and foremost a slow, progressive and age-related disease that starts after age 40. 

It is normal that the lens becomes less flexible, thicker and harder with age. The proteins in the lens also slowly start to breaking down and clump together. As time passes by the clouding increases. Therefore, most people over 60 years old will have some degree of clouding in the lens even though many do not experience significant vision problems until much later. 

Cataracts can also occur much earlier in life for those that are born premature or have certain underlying diseases or genetic disorder. Here are some of the risk factors that can result in an  earlier onset of cataracts:

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• Previous history of eye trauma, injury, inflammation or surgery

• Family members with a history of cataracts

• Certain medical or conditions such as diabetes, , obesity, high blood pressure , muscular dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2 or rubella

• Previous radiation treatments to the eye, face and upper body

• Frequent and high exposure to sunlight without using UVA blocking sunglasses 

• Sunbathing without UVA blocking sunglasses

• Use of certain medications such corticosteroids

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Smoking

No studies have proved how to prevent cataracts or slow the progression of cataracts. Luckily cataract surgery is considered a highly safe and pain-free surgery, where an uncomplicated cataract surgery only takes 15 min per eye to correct. In fact, it is the most common surgery in the world. 

When the surgery takes place, one is given pain medication and the natural lens is carefully removed and replaced with an artificial lens with your needed prescription.

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All first time patients and those that want to see if they qualify for eye correction surgery are given an in depth 50 min exam. At Salvanos Eye Clinic, we are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships based on trust and medical integrity with every single patient.

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Patients return home straight after the procedure and see the benefits already from the same day

Should any complications arise during surgery you can rest assured that you are in the besthands. Dr. Salvanos is a highly experienced surgeon with expertise in complicated cataracts cases and is able perform double surgery for those that have retina-detachment, or glaucoma that needs to be treated at the same time.

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