Cataracts San Diego
Morris Eye Group treats people with cataracts that live in San Diego.
What are Cataracts and What Causes Them?
Cataracts are degenerative changes in the structure of the eye that form when protein in the lens begins to clump together, clouding a small area of the eye. This cloud will continue to grow and interfere with vision. They can occur in one or both eyes. While the most common cause of cataracts is age, they can also be caused by eye trauma, certain medications, and various environmental and lifestyle factors. Additionally, some cataracts are congenital. You can find out more about cataracts by making an appointment in our Encinitas or Oceanside office. We evaluate people that have cataracts and live in San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and the rest of North County.
Symptoms of Cataracts
Protein clumps that cloud the eye reduce the sharpness of vision in several ways. An individual with cataracts may experience blurry vision or be unable to see bright colors at their true intensity. Lights may seem excessively bright, and halos may appear around them. Double vision is another symptom that indicates a cataract has formed.
How are Cataracts Diagnosed?
The way to know if you have a cataract is to come to Morris Eye Group and see one of our doctors. Cataracts can be detected with a full optical examination, including pupil dilation, a visual acuity test, and a tonometry test. Since early cataract diagnosis and monitoring can protect your vision, regular exams are advisable. Catching cataracts early helps patients more easily find a cure.
Cataracts Progression
At first, a cataract only affects a small portion of the eye’s lens. Over time, the cataract grows, often so gradually that the patient does not notice it. When the entire lens has become clouded, ophthalmologists refer to the cataract as a “ripe” or “mature” cataract. At this stage, cataracts can cause severe vision problems.
Types of Cataracts
Finding out what type of cataract you have helps determine the most appropriate course of treatment. By seeing a doctor at Morris Eye Group we can determine the type of cataract you have. The most common type of cataract is age-related, though there are also congenital cataracts, which form at birth or during early childhood. Other types of cataracts include secondary cataracts, which are particularly common in diabetics, and traumatic cataracts that are the result of eye injury.
Is There a Treatment or Cure for Cataracts?
The only cure for cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery is indispensable in providing patients with freedom from clouded, blurred, or dimmed vision. Morris Eye Group does cataract surgery for patients in San Diego and North County. There are many types of cataract eye surgery that may be used to best treat a patient’s condition.
Recovery after Cataract Surgery
After cataract surgery, patients generally feel mild discomfort. Usually, though, over-the-counter pain relievers are sufficient for numbing any pain or itching you might feel. Cataract surgery patients sometimes experience temporary fluid discharge and sensitivity to light following their operation.
Who is at risk for developing cataracts?
Younger people are usually not affected—it is older people who are at greater risk. Of people who are 60 years of age and older, approximately 60 percent have had their vision impaired by the formation of cataracts. Cataracts are the main cause of vision loss in those over the age of 55. Injury, disease, and heredity may also result in cataracts.
What does cataract treatment consist of?
Cataract treatment normally consists of cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, the lens of the eye is removed and replaced by a new, artificial lens. In most cataract surgeries, an intraocular lens (IOL) is used. The IOL may be made of silicone, plastic, or acrylic. At Morris Eye Group we offer a wide range of IOLs including the Restor and the Rezoom lens which give patients the patient the ability to be glasses free for most of their activities. For the few patients who cannot tolerate IOLs, cataract treatment would consist of regular soft contact lenses or glasses.
How effective is cataract surgery?
The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) states that 98 percent of all cataract surgeries have positive results. Cataract surgery risks are lower in patients who undergo extracapsular or phacoemulsification surgery, both of which leave the eye’s capsule intact. Most patients report improved vision and few complications after cataract treatment.
What will my recovery from cataract surgery be like?
Cataract surgery recovery time is considered to be approximately six weeks. However, most patients should find that any pain or discomfort will subside within a day or two of their surgery. Immediately following cataract surgery, patients may experience some pain and irritation of the eye. Many patients also experience increased light sensitivity and a small amount of fluid discharge after cataract surgery. Special pills and eye drops may be prescribed to promote healing and regulate the pressure inside the eye. Pain relievers may also be taken during the first few days if necessary. Follow-up exams allow the physician to monitor patient progress. Sunglasses or eye shields can help protect the eye while it is healing. You can purchase sunglasses from the Morris Eye Group optical shops in Encinitas and Oceanside.
What are the odds of achieving normal vision after cataract surgery?
Despite the marked improvement that cataract surgery offers, most patients will continue to wear contacts or glasses after their cataract treatment, unless a patient decides to have a Smart Lens implant/ Restor/ Rezoom IOL. After cataract surgery, there will be a period of recovery time while the eyes adjust to seeing without the cataract. If only one eye is treated, the eyes must learn to work together again. Many everyday activities can be resumed soon after cataract surgery, although patients may experience blurry vision for a time. Driving may be impractical and unsafe at first; the physician will advise the patient on the appropriate time to begin driving again after cataract treatment. Also, patients who receive intraocular lenses (IOLs) may notice some color distortion at first. This should resolve itself within a few months, as the eyes adjust to the new, clear lenses of the IOLs.
