Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens, like a window that is fogged with steam. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision becomes blurred.

Protecting your eyes from sunlight may slow the progression of cataracts. There are no medications, eye drops, exercises or eyeglasses that will cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.

Common Cataract Symptoms:

1. A painless blurring of vision
2. Glare or light sensitivity
3. Poor night vision
4. Needing brighter light to read
5. Fading or yellowing of colors

It is up to you to decide when to have a cataract removed. When you are unable to see well enough to do the things you like or need to do, you should consider cataract surgery.

Traditionally monofocal IOLs were used for cataract surgery. This type of lens is very effective at restoring functional distance vision. However, people still need glasses to correct for near vision, and glasses or additional surgery to correct any existing astigmatism.

Recent advances have been so significant that new-generation lenses could allow you to see well at all distances without the help of glasses, bifocals, or reading glasses. Following are the three primary types of lenses currently available and what each is designed to do for your vision:

• Monofocal lenses have one point of focus and can usually give you clear distance vision. While distance vision is improved, most patients still need to wear glasses for certain tasks, such as reading or working at a computer.
• Mulitfocal lenses are designed to replace cataracts and correct presbyopia at the same time. Their goal is to give you a full range of clear vision, near to far, and everywhere in between.
• Astigmatism-correcting lenses are for patients with existing corneal astigmatism. Similar to monofocal lenses, these lenses usually give patients quality distance vision with less dependence on glasses. Most patients still need to wear glasses for task such as reading or working at a computer.

Cataract surgery improves vision in most cases. Cataract surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis so you can go home the same day.

Cataract links

ReStor – www.acrysofrestor.com
ReZoom – www.visioninfocus.com