Cataracts

cataract

Your eye has a clear lens through which light passes allowing you to see.  When the lens loses its transparency, the cloudy tissue that develops is known as a cataract.  

Cataracts cause progressive, painless loss of vision.  The lens clouds naturally as we age, so people over the age of 65 usually see a gradual reduction of vision.  No one is exactly sure what causes cataracts.  In younger people they can result from an injury, certain medications, or illnesses such as diabetes.  Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light may also play a role in the formation of cataracts.  Studies have also shown that people who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of developing cataracts than non-smokers.

Although cataracts usually develop without apparent pain, some indications that a cataract may be forming are as follows:

• blurred or hazy vision

• double vision

• poor vision in bright light

• seeing halos around lights

• yellowish tinged vision

• night vision difficulty

If visual impairment interferes with your ability to read, work, or do the things you enjoy then you will want to consider cataract surgery.  Surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts.  Cataract surgery is a relatively painless and is one of the most frequently performed procedures.  It has a very high success rate and more than 90 percent of cataract surgery patients regain useful vision.

 

  

   

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States.  A simple painless eye exam can detect the disease. With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can usually be controlled and blindness prevented. 

Glaucoma can affect anyone from newborn infants to the elderly.  It has been estimated that up to 3 million Americans have glaucoma.  At least half of those people do not know they have it because glaucoma usually has no symptoms. People who are at a greater risk for glaucoma usually have the following conditions:

• at least 45 years old without regular eye exams

• a family history of glaucoma

• abnormally high eye pressure

• African descent

• nearsightedness

• diabetes

• previous eye injury

• regular, long-term use of cortisone/steroid products

To detect glaucoma, your physician will test your visual acuity, visual field, dilate your pupils and test the pressure in your eye.  Regular and complete eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and will help to determine whether you may develop glaucoma.  

Treatment to control glaucoma include medications in the form of either eye drops or pills, laser surgery and conventional surgery.

  

 

 

Yag 

The Y.A.G. laser is a sophisticated machine that emits small concentrated beams of light.  Lasers are used for various medical procedures including cataract extraction and in the treatment of certain types of glaucoma.

Before your laser procedure is performed you will be given a vision test.  You may or may not be given drops to dilate your pupils.  After 30-40 minutes, when your pupils are sufficiently enlarged, the doctor will administer an anesthetic to prevent any discomfort.  A contact lens will be placed on your eye.  If you do not wear contact lenses, it may feel different,  but it will not hurt.  You will then sit at the slit-lamp table for treatment.  The Y.A.G. laser procedure is pain-free and can take up to ten minutes to complete.  You may or may not need to take prescription medicine or drops for up to three days after the treatment.  Please make sure that you have someone accompany you to the procedure because you will be unable to drive after the treatment.  Before you leave, make sure to schedule a follow-up appointment.

 

  

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