Inside the eye directly behind the colored part of your eye (iris) and centered around the pupil, you have a natural lens that helps to focus images onto the retina. Over time, as part of the natural aging process, the lens may become cloudy. A cloudy lens is termed a cataract. Cataracts can produce problems with glare and blurred vision. Most cataracts are related to aging, however they can occur earlier in life if you have diabetes, a history of chronic steroid use, or have had an injury to your eye. Occasionally cataracts can be inherited and noted at birth. Cataracts are very common in older people and can occur in one or both eyes. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Almost everyone, if they live long enough, will develop a cataract, but not all cataracts will require surgery.
Cataract Surgery
Most cataracts progress slowly, so having yearly comprehensive eye exams and keeping your eyeglass and/or contact lens prescription updated can greatly aid in maintaining acceptable vision for many years. At some point, however, your “best corrected visual acuity” may decrease to the point that doing visually demanding tasks such as reading, driving or watching TV is compromised. At this point a referral for a cataract surgery consult would be indicated. Surgical cataract removal with implantation of an artificial “intraocular lens” is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. It also is one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. In almost all cases, people who have cataract surgery have better significantly better vision after the surgery.
Boas Vision Associates is committed to your eye health:
Boas Vision Associates provides comprehensive eye examinations during which our doctors fully examine your eyes to assess for any cataracts. The doctors examine the extent of any decrease in best corrected acuity due to cataract development, explore how it may be affecting your vision and quality of life, and help you understand when a referral for cataract surgery is indicated. We offer close cooperation and co-management of advancing cataracts with local cataract surgeons to provide the highest quality of care to our patients.
By Appointment Only