Cataract Treatment in Pottstown, PA

Cataracts are extremely common and develop when proteins in the eye clump over the lens. As a result, the lens becomes cloudy, and light cannot move through the eye to the retina as it normally would. Vision is less sharp, objects appear hazy, and colors are muted. While cataracts are a normal part of aging that cannot be prevented, they can be treated by surgery. In fact, cataract treatment is available right here in Pottstown, PA at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.

Is surgery common?

Cataract surgery is very common. About four million surgeries are performed in the United States each year. You don’t really need to have cataract surgery until your everyday vision is affected. Most people begin having trouble reading, watching television or driving. Although most people actually start to develop cataracts around age 40, they generally don’t start noticing signs of cataracts until after age 60. Typically, by age 65, the large majority of people – over 90% — have cataracts, and by age 75, most people say their cataracts are really affecting their vision.

What are the symptoms?

Although cataracts usually begin developing in middle age, it can take years or even decades before you notice symptoms. If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, you may have cataracts:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Light sensitivity
• Poor night vision
• Seeing “halos” around lights, particularly at night
• Colors that look faded or yellowed
• Double vision

Do I really need surgery?

Unfortunately, surgery is the only way to permanently correct cataracts. In the early stages, though, you can wear prescription glasses or contact lenses to deal with the vision changes, and wear sunglasses to help with the light sensitivity.

Does the surgery have risks?

While any surgical procedure carries some risk, cataract surgeries are one of the safest procedures you can have. Risks are generally rare, but can include infection or swelling, bleeding or inflammation. In very rare cases, patients might experience secondary cataracts, retinal detachment or loss of vision.

How soon will I have normal vision?

After cataract surgery, your vision will return to normal in just a few days. When you have the surgery, you can choose a lens that also offers vision correction. There are several options to choose from, depending on the type of correction you need:

• Monofocal lens: this lens provides distance vision, but you may still need reading glasses.
• Multifocal lens: this lens corrects near, far and in-between vision and is also used in some cases where macular degeneration is also present.
• Toric lens: this lens is a great option if you have astigmatism. It not only can significantly correct your distance vision but also reduces or eliminates corneal astigmatism.
• Depth-of-focus lens: this is a new lens that can help patients see at varying distances; many patients no longer need glasses for driving, watching television or reading.

Give Us A Call

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in people age 55 and older. Don’t let this condition rob you of a life worth seeing. Millions have the surgery each year, so give us a call and we will answer all your questions. Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is your cataract treatment specialist in Pottstown, PA, and we are ready to meet your eye health needs.