Cataracts: What to know

• Posted on: Jun 30 2016
• By: Jim Wiegand

Cataracts affect nearly 25 million people in the United States, but surprisingly, few people know the facts about the condition. Everyone is at risk for cataracts, but those over age 55 are especially susceptible to the vision-robbing disease. Read on to learn how a cataract develops, their symptoms and how cataract surgery is safe and relatively painless.

What is a cataract? – A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s lens that prevents light from passing through the eye correctly to the retina; it is the result of protein changes within the human lens that cause a loss of clarity. This lens clouding creates blurred vision, making common life activities difficult.

Cataracts develop at different rates in people. It is a natural process as we age, but if left untreated can lead to blindness.

What are symptoms of cataracts? – Cataracts often develop slowly, which results in them being difficult to detect. The most common symptoms include:

• Color appears dull and lacks vibrancy
• Increased glare from oncoming traffic at night
• Blurry or foggy vision
• Reduced night vision
• Sensitivity to sunlight/bright light
• Halos around lights
• More light is required for reading
• New glasses improve vision less

How do I get rid of my cataracts? – There are many options to improve your vision. Cataracts can affect vision, reducing one’s quality of life. Once glasses or contacts no longer improve your vision, it is worth looking into a surgical solution. Tower Clock Eye Center offers many options for cataract removal and lens implantation, including true laser cataract surgery. In fact, Tower Clock Eye Center’s surgeons are the most experienced laser cataract surgeons in Wisconsin.

Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and inserting a new customizable lens. Meeting with a physician at Tower Clock Eye Center will allow you to learn of all your options and help determine which lens option is best for you.

How common is cataract surgery? – Surgery for cataracts is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. More than 3 million procedures are performed annually and it has become one of the safest, most effective and successful surgeries in the country.

Cataract surgery is a relatively pain-free experience that usually takes less than an hour. Tower Clock Surgery Center (located across the street from our clinic) is the area’s most advanced cataract surgery center and offers many advantages to having surgery in a large hospital setting. As a dedicated cataract surgery center, our facility was built with our patients’ needs in mind.

If you are facing cataract surgery, call Tower Clock Eye Center at 920 499-3102 to make an appointment and learn about all the advantages we offer to get back you back to living life – and seeing clearer.

Tagged with: Best of the Bay, blog, cataract surgery, Cataracts, Common eye problems, Eye disease, eye health, eye problems, eye surgeon, Tower Clock Eye Center, Tower Clock Surgery Center, Wisconsin

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