Treatment for Cataracts

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cataracts, or if you suspect that you may be suffering from this condition, it's crucial to be under the regular care of an eye doctor. We at VisionSmith, Plymouth, MN, know what is important to know about cataracts.

Diagnosis of Cataracts

Cataracts are typically marked by the appearance of a milky white film over the lens of the eye. This film is caused by the breakdown of proteins in the eye, which tends to occur as people age. For people with this condition, many describe their vision as seeing everything through a haze. Over time, the condition progresses to the point that vision is completely clouded over.

In the early stages of this condition, it is difficult to see this film. Early symptoms usually include changes in vision, however. Patients who come into the our office complaining of things appearing blurry or objects that are hard to focus on will usually be put through an exam in which our optometrist looks at the eye with a focused beam of light. This test allows the eye doctor to look for abnormalities in the eye. It may also be necessary to dilate your eyes so that the doctor can get a better look at the lens changes, allowing him or her to see early signs of this disease.

Treatment

Although cataracts can cause blurry vision, the condition is not caused by the actual shape of your eye. For this reason, eyeglasses sometimes do not help. At the present time, the only real way to cure cataracts is with eye surgery.

During this surgery, the cataract surgeon will remove the clouded part of your eye's lens and replace it with an artificial lens. This is normally done under a local anesthesia; patients do not feel anything except pressure during the surgery.

Recovery time will vary from patient to patient, but it typically takes one to two weeks for vision to normalize. Cataract surgery is always done one eye at a time, usually separated by two weeks. The doctor will discuss the typical recovery period and the use of drops during the postoperative period that helps aid the eye's healing.

Contact Us for Help with Cataracts

If you are experiencing the symptoms of cataracts and you live in the Plymouth, MN, area, call our optometrist office today at VisionSmith (763) 559-5522.