Submitted by Dr. Rudd for Clarus Eye Centre
As summer is quickly approaching, most of us reach for our sunglasses to protect our eyes. Did you know that ultraviolet light causes significant damage to the eyes? When the eyes are exposed to sunlight over a lifetime, they are more prone to develop one of the most common causes of treatable vision loss in the world, cataracts.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has designated June as Cataract Awareness month. However, we should all pay attention to reducing our risk of cataracts year round. From UV protection to smoking cessation, there are many ways to help slow the progression of cataracts. Unfortunately, there still is no proven way to prevent them!
When cataracts develop, they often cause a slow deterioration of the quality of your vision. Images are not as sharp as they used to be. Most people notice difficulty reading road signs, or have trouble with glare around lights. Since there are no classic symptoms that indicate cataracts are present, routine eye exams with your ophthalmologist are important to monitor their progression.
Most patients do not realize that a cataract is not a growth in the eye. It is actually the hardening of your natural focusing lens. Over time, proteins build up in the lens and it becomes harder and more opaque, thus reducing your vision. The cataract is about the size of an M & M. It also has a shell (capsule) and the inside of the cataract is like a “yellow chocolate.” When we remove the cataract, we open the shell and gently sculpt away the “yellow chocolate.” A lens is then implanted in the capsule, one that serves as your focusing power for the rest of your life.
Cataract patients may select standard lens implants that are typically covered by insurance. Or, for an additional fee, you may select premium options that include a lens that is bifocal and one that corrects your astigmatism! Both of the premium options are geared towards letting the patient see well without glasses.
Surgery takes about 10 minutes, is performed under topical anesthesia, and patients can often return to work the following day. This is a far cry from your grandmother’s cataract surgery where she was hospitalized for a week with sandbags beside her head! Current technology continues to make cataract surgery more precise and safe.
Please call to schedule an appointment with one of our cataract surgeons today to see if you can benefit from our latest technology.
Lacey (360) 456-3200
DuPont (253) 912-2020
