Cataracts are the clouding of the lens in our eye. We are all (ideally) born with clear lenses through which light is focussed onto our retinas at the back of our eyes. As we have birthdays, this goes cloudy and can lead to blurry vision, sensitivity in bright light and poorer vision at night. It is not a disease, more a natural guarantee with aging like wrinkles and grey hair. There is no pain and it’s not a growth over the eye.
Some sadly are born with cataracts and they can develop in younger eyes after a trauma to the eye, poor control of diabetes, excessive exposure to UV light and long term use of steroid medications .
If cataracts are really starting to affect your vision, glasses and contacts stop helping as much and surgery can be the best option. This is a day procedure and the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear implant. This surgical procedure is typically quick and considered safe and effective with minimal risk, restoring clear vision for the majority of patients. Sometimes there are several things causing blurred vision and we need to identify which one is causing your symptoms.
The definition of “easy surgery” is anything that is not happening to ourselves. At Kenmore Plaza Optometry we understand how precious sight is and that we get one go at these things. We are here to help with the understandable anxiety that can come with needing this done and we can help you find the ophthalmologist that will best suit you. By regularly and thoroughly examining your eyes, we can ensure early detection and watch key markers to know when it’s best to refer. Better outcomes are achieved through explaining the process and expectations and we are there to look after your eye health and needs after the surgery too.