Cataracts are the leading cause of vision
loss among adults 55 and older. About half of Americans age 65 to 74 have
cataracts.
A cataract is a clouding of the human crystalline
lens.
To better understand the significance of a cataract one must have an understanding
of the normal anatomy of the eye. The cornea is the clear front part of the
eye and can be compared to a watch crystal covering the face of your watch.
The iris lies behind the cornea and the central opening or pupil of the iris
controls the amount of light entering the eye in the same way that a camera
diaphragm controls the light and depth of field of a camera.
Behind the iris is the crystalline lens. Behind the crystalline lens is the sensory retina. The retina can be compared to the film in your camera and the signals from the retina are transported to the brain by the optic nerve.
The cornea and lens normally focus light on the retina. When the lens becomes cloudy as a result of metabolic changes in the lens fibers, this is when a cataract has developed, thereby interfering with light transmission.
Treatment
When the vision of either eye deteriorates to less than useful levels
and cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, treatment should
be considered. The only treatment for cataracts is surgical. The cloudy portion
of the crystalline lens must be removed and replaced with a clear artificial
lens.
For many years, surgeons removed the entire
lens, and patients were often told that their cataract must be "ripe" before
surgery. This expression developed because a mature or "ripe" cataract
is much more easily removed intact from within the eye. This can be compared
to removing "ripe" fruit from trees.
Technological advances now make it possible for surgeons to selectively remove
the cloudy fibers from within the capsule surrounding them, and leave a clear
portion of the crystalline lens capsule behind to support an intraocular
lens implant. This procedure can be done with eye drop anesthesia and a clear
corneal incision without sutures.
The operation takes approximately 20 minutes
to perform and normally no eye patch is required. Of all surgeries, cataract
surgery has the highest success rate. The operation is successful in over
96% of eyes and useful vision usually occurs within a few hours following
surgery. Normal activity can be usually resumed the following day.
We will be happy to examine your eyes, and talk about the specific treatment
of your cataract. We offer educational materials, including a video outlining
this procedure in detail that will enhance your understanding of the procedure.