Fast Facts About Cataracts – Cataract Facts

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Do you think that you might be suffering from cataracts?

  • Cataracts affects the eye’s natural lens and makes things appear cloudy and blurred.
  • In most cases, only people over the age of 40 have cataracts that affect their vision and require treatment, so it’s unlikely that you have cataracts if you are a young person. In fact, over half of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts or have had cataract surgery.

But it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your eyes, so if you suspect there could be a problem, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. Here are some of the cataract facts our patients ask for frequently:

Cataract Fact 1: Cataracts don’t always require surgery right away.

If you visit your ophthalmologist and are diagnosed with a cataract, you might think that you will need to undergo surgery immediately to get rid of it. But in some cases, a doctor will choose to wait to perform cataract surgery. This is because cataracts usually start off very small and don’t impact your vision all that much, so if you have cataracts and they aren’t affecting your lifestyle, you can usually put off surgery until your condition gets worse.

Cataract Fact 2: Cataracts can be removed completely with surgery.

If your doctor decides that you do need surgery, you will be happy to know that in most cases, cataracts can be removed quickly and completely.

  • During surgery, your doctor will make a small incision in the surface of your eye, use a laser to break your natural lens down into small pieces, and then remove it.
  • Your doctor will then replace the lens with an implant that is called an intraocular lens, which will restore your vision and help you see again.

Cataract Fact 3: Cataracts won’t usually force you to wear thick glasses later.

Years ago, people who suffered from cataracts were destined to wear thick, unsightly glasses after undergoing surgery. But the technology involved in cataract surgery has improved greatly, and most people respond positively to their new intraocular lenses.

  • In fact, your vision may even go back to 20/20 after cataract surgery, which means you might not have to wear glasses at all.

These are just a few things you should know about cataracts, but we know you might have more questions that you want to ask, and Ophthalmology Associates of Western New York is here to help. Call us at 716-632-3545 today to schedule a consultation.