June is Cataract Awareness Month. What are cataracts? Cataracts is a discoloration / yellowing of the natural lens within your eye. It is a normal process of time, and everyone is most likely to develop cataracts as we age. If and when the cataracts become severe enough and start to interfere with your vision, cataract surgery is recommended. Cataract surgery is a type of refractive procedure that removes the natural lens and can be replaced with an artificial lens reducing the need for glasses and/or contact lenses. These lenses are called Intraocular Lens Implants. There are many types, including implants that correct for astigmatism and even multiple distances to minimize the need for glasses. Depending on your visual needs, the surgeon will make the best recommendation for you.
Here are some of the symptoms of visually significant cataracts:
– Blurred vision
– Severe difficulty with glare
– Need for brighter light when reading and other activities
– Halos around lights such as street lights or oncoming car lights
– Yellowing of colors
– Cloudy or dim vision
– Frequent prescription change
An analogy that we like to use in the office is that cataracts are like looking through a foggy / dirty windshield. Cataract surgery is indicated when glasses can only minimally improve vision, or when daily activities are impaired by the decreased vision. When the surgeon deems that cataract surgery is medically necessary, insurance covers a good amount of the associated costs.
