Cataract FAQ Dallas
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris (or colored part of your eye), works just like the lens of a camera. It focuses light images on the retina, which sends the images to your brain.
The human lens can become so clouded that it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury, eye inflammation, certain diseases, or even some medications (such as steroids) can cause the clouding. But, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process.
What Symptoms do Cataracts Cause?
A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, bright colors become dull, or seeing at night is more difficult. It may also be why the reading glasses or bifocals that used to help you read, or do other simple tasks, no longer seem to help.
Other symptoms to look for include:
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Seeing halos or starburst around lights
- Frequent changes in Eyeglass or Contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
How are Cataracts Treated?
The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement lens implant. At LaserCare Eye Center, Dr. Gicheru and his staff offer choices when performing your surgery.
Standard Cataract Surgery: With standard Cataract surgery, the Cataract is removed and a standard monofocal lens is implanted. This is the type of lens that was used before Advanced Technology lenses were available. It is also the type of surgery that most insurance companies pay for. The standard Monofocal lens does not correct for astigmatism and glasses are required to be able to see at different distances (near, intermediate and far distance). Patients selecting Standard Cataract Surgery should expect to wear glasses.
