Facts about Cataract

Information may not be reliable

First let’s talk about the definition of cataract. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

 

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

 

 

The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil and this works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.

 

But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This now becomes a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

 

Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the years.

 

Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes:

 

·         Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

·         Dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

·         Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.

 

Your eye care professional also may do other tests to learn more about the structure and health of your eye.

 

Cataract and Refractive Institute of Floridais dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts and different eye conditions and diseases, such as blurred vision, dry eyes, glaucoma, retinal detachments, corneal issues, burns and other wounds.

 

How does Cataract and Refractive Institute of Florida do it? The cloudy or hazy lens needs to be removed in order to clear your vision. If all that is done is to remove the lens, your vision is going to be very blurred as you have no lens in your eye to focus the light onto the retina. After the cataract or lens has been removed, it needs to be replaced with an artificial lens so that you can see again. If you don’t replace the lens that was extracted from your eye, the vision is going to be very blurred. A significant part of the focusing system for your eye has been removed and the lens needs to be replaced. Before your surgery, the eyes are tested and measured so that the eye surgeon can choose the proper lens power to replace your lens. The lens power is calculated by computers inside of instruments used to measure your eye and the eye surgeon will choose the strength of lens that will correct your vision. So, no matter if you are near-sighted, far-sighted, or have astigmatism, your vision can be corrected with the insertion of an intraocular lens that has been calculated to correct your vision.

 

At Cataract & Refractive Institute of Florida, you are cared for by the best. Led by Dr. James E. Croley III, our exceptional medical team provides a full range of services from LASIK and eyelid lifts to cataract and refractive surgery. We also do medical eye exams for glasses and contacts. 

 

You can contact us through these numbers:

 

CAPE CORAL - (239) 772-2122

LEHIGH ACRES - (239) 368-1020

BONITA SPRINGS - (239) 949-1190