One of the benefits of aging is the amazing side effects it has on our bodies! Of course, we are being sarcastic however, it is true that as your age increases so do the ailments that affect us. One of the most common side effects of aging is the development of cataracts.
Cataracts are described as a cloudiness on the lens inside your eye. Often the loss of vision due to cataracts cannot be corrected with the use of contacts, glasses or corneal refractive surgery, LASIK. We know this sounds scary at first. However, vision can be restored when it is lost because of cataracts with modern cataract surgery. Surgery for cataracts often reduce the dependence on vision correction methods as well.
As previously mentioned cataracts are most often associated with the process of aging. Cataracts are more common to seniors and in fact up to 70% of Americans over 80 have been affected by cataracts. This number is expected to continue to increase in the years ahead. This is just one of the reasons eye surgeons have taken modernizing cataract surgery so seriously. It is expected that the population of the United States affected by cataracts is to nearly double by the middle of the century.
One of the safest, most effective, widely performed surgical procedures now-a-days is cataract surgery. Three million cataract surgeries are performed each and every year, the majority resulting in unparalleled visual outcomes.
During cataract surgery the cloudy lens inside the patient’s eye is removed and replace with an intraocular lens, IOL. This artificial lens helps to restore clear vision. The surgical procedure is most often performed on an outpatient basis and doesn’t require the patient to stay overnight. Modern cataract surgery involves the use of a high-frequency ultrasound that is used to break the cloudy lens into small pieces that can be removed.
Modern cataract removal is known as phacoemulsification, phaco for short, and is performed using smaller incisions than used in previous cataract techniques which allow for faster healing times and a reduction in the risks such as retinal detachment that can occur as a complication of cataract surgery.
Once all of the remnants of the cloud have been removed from the lens the surgeon then inserts the clear intraocular lens. It is positioned in the same location as your natural lens, behind the iris and pupil. Special circumstances may require the lens be placed in front of the iris and pupil, but this is not common.
Once the cataract surgeon has removed the cataract and finished the IOL implant procedure with the closing of the incision that was made to your eye a protective shield is put into place over the eye. This shield is in place to protect the eye as you recover from surgery.
Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to suit your lifestyle and visual needs. As a leader in laser vision correction and cataract surgery, our goal is to help you achieve the best vision possible without glasses or contact lenses. More information can be found online at https://michiganlasik.com.