FAQs on Cataracts CT

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, causing a foggy or blurry vision. The lenses of your eyes should be clear, allowing for sharp vision. When a cataract has formed, you may experience sensitivity to light, double vision, diminished night vision, dulled color perception and you may need more light when reading or performing tasks.

How Do Cataracts Develop?

In most cases, cataracts develop slowly over time. They tend to develop in both eyes, and can affect only a part of or all of the eye's lens.

Who is at risk of developing cataracts?

Cataracts are very common in older individuals. Most people 75 and older live with cataracts or have had surgery to correct the condition. However, cataracts may also be caused by:

• Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light
• Long- or short-term exposure to radiation
• Abuse of steroids, either by mouth, injected, or eye drops
• Secondary to certain diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension

What is the treatment for cataracts?

The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States.

Surgery is not warranted until vision is impaired by cataracts. As long as you can see well enough to drive and enjoy normal activities, you may put off surgical treatment.

What can I expect of surgery?

Before cataract surgery, your eye surgeon will consult with you on your medical history, including any medications you are taking.

On the day of surgery, eye drops will be given to dilate your pupils. Some patients also receive a sedative to relax them during the procedure. Cataract surgery is painless, as a local or topical anesthetic is administered.

Once your eye has been prepped, a small incision is made and your surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an intraocular lens, or IOL. The cataract may also be "broken up" with a laser. The exact method of surgical extraction will be discussed with you prior to your procedure.

Your surgeon will replace your natural lens with a regular single-vision (mono-focal) intraocular lens, or you may choose to receive a presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens. The most suitable lens is determined through the consideration of your lifestyle as well as your budget. While presbyopia correcting IOLs reduce or eliminate your need for eyeglasses, they do carry a higher cost.

Are there side effects with cataract surgery?

With any surgical procedure there is the risk of pain, swelling, bleeding and infection, which may rarely lead to loss of the eye. However, eye surgeons perform cataract surgery with great frequency, and side effects are very rare.

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