Cataracts are a very common problem that causes blurred vision, decreased night vision, and washed-out colors. Cataracts occur when the lens within the eye starts to become cloudy.
The typical aging cataract usually starts to show up around age 60 and slowly progresses over many years. One of the earliest symptoms is difficulty with night vision, with dimmer vision, and increasing glare. Later on they cause blurred vision and make colors appear duller. Patients commonly have trouble reading fine print, making out road signs, or reading subtitles in a movie. Cataracts can even progress to blindness in advanced cases.
When cataracts impair vision to the point of interfering with quality of life, surgery is indicated. Cataract surgery is an extremely common surgery, and involves replacing the cataract with a new artificial lens implant. Once removed, cataracts do not grow back and the new lens is permanent. Cataract surgery is generally very safe, and serious complications are rare. However every surgery has some degree of risk, and it is important to consider these before deciding on surgery.
Dr. Strong has performed thousands of cataract surgeries. He offers the advanced technique of small incision, sutureless surgery. Surgery usually only takes 10-15 minutes, using anesthesia for patient comfort at an ambulatory surgery center. The patient is then able to return home with postop care mainly consisting of eyedrops.
There are many options available for the new artificial lens implanted during surgery. This choice can reduce your dependency on glasses. Dr. Strong will personally review with you which lenses are appropriate to your eyes, and together make a decision on which lens best suits your lifestyle and vision needs. Advanced options include toric lenses for astigmatism and multifocal lenses to reduce the need for reading glasses.