Cataracts cannot be prevented, and there is no proven treatment other than surgery.
When should surgery be done? Cataract surgery should be considered when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with daily activities. Can you perform daily tasks, such as cooking, shopping, yard work or taking medications without difficulty? Based upon your symptoms, you and Dr. Elmquist should decide together when surgery is appropriate.
What can I expect from cataract surgery? During cataract surgery, which is usually performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye. In most cases, the focusing power of the natural lens is restored by replacing it with a permanent intraocular lens implant.
In approximately one-fifth of people having cataract surgery, the natural capsule that supports the intraocular lens will become cloudy. Laser surgery is used to open this cloudy capsule, restoring the clear vision. After cataract surgery, you may return almost immediately to all but the most strenuous activities. You will have to use eye drops as Dr. Elmquist directs. Several postoperative visits are needed to check on the progress of the eye as it heals. Cataract surgery is a highly successful procedure, but it is important to understand that complications can occur during or after surgery, some severe enough to limit vision. As with any surgery, a good result cannot be guaranteed.
Click here to learn about the causes and symptoms of cataracts.
CUSTOM CATARACT PROCEDURES For the past 50 years surgeons have been placing intraocular lenses into patients’ eyes at the time of cataract surgery. Until recently, patients had no true choice in the type of lens that was implanted. Advances in technology have created more options and we want you to be fully informed of these options prior to your cataract surgery.
Our goal is to help you select the best implant for your long term visual needs and to provide a pleasant surgical experience. Dr. Elmquist will discuss all of these options with you at our cataract seminar. In addition, we will perform several measurements to determine which implants may be the best for your eyes. Click on the links below for a brief summary of some of the lenses that are available.
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