What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is a painless clouding in the lens of the eye that causes vision impairment. Cataracts sometimes remain small and may not be noticeable. Frequently, cataracts do not need to be removed. However, many cataracts grow larger or more dense over time, causing severe vision changes.
Globally, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness, affecting 18 million people. Cataracts are even more significant as a cause of low vision, affecting 62 million worldwide.
What Are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
Not all cataracts impair vision or affect daily living. But when they do, common symptoms include:
Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy or filmy vision
Glare from lamps or the sun, which may be severe
Difficulty driving at night due to glare from headlights
Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
Second sight – temporary improvement in near vision (such as that needed for reading) in farsighted people
Difficulty performing daily activities because of vision problems
What Causes Cataracts?
Aging and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause cataracts. People may also experience cataracts after an eye injury, as a result of eye disease, after the use of certain medications, or as a result of medical conditions such as diabetes.
Genetics may be another risk factor for developing cataracts. People with a family history are more likely to develop them. The color of your eye may also contribute to the development of cataracts. People with darker-colored irises appear to have an increased risk of developing them.
How to Avoid Cataracts
Have your vision checked regularly for early detection
Wear sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection
Wear protective eye gear, when active, to avoid eye trauma
How Are Cataracts Treated?
Cataracts are usually treated with surgery if vision problems are interfering with quality of life. Cataract surgery is very common and currently has the highest success rate of any surgical procedure. It involves removing the natural lens of the eye, which contains the cataract. The lens is then usually replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL) implant.
How do our Drs. treat Cataracts?
Drs. Katz and Nahas are experts in the field of cataract surgery. They have performed thousands of cataract surgeries with excellent results. We perform no suture microincisional cataract surgery under topical anesthesia.
We are proud to offer TECNIS® lens implants, which not only correct cataracts, but also help achieve spectacle independence. We also offer Toric® Lenses for selected patients to decrease the need for glasses by treating astigmatism. We will discuss your options if cataract surgery is being considered.
If you are having symptoms of cataracts, please feel free to call the office to schedule an appointment for a complete evaluation. If cataracts are the cause of your loss of vision, you can feel comfortable in our Doctors' hands!
224 Chimney Corner Ln,
Jupiter, FL 33458
phone: 561 408-2345
fax: 561 444-3508
PORT SAINT LUCIE
573 NW Lake Whitney Place,
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
phone: 772 446-4230
fax: 772 446-4758
Mon - Fri 8:00a- 5:00p