Cataracts
If You Are 40 or Older and There Are Changes in Your Vision, You May Have Cataracts.
As we age, proteins within the eye’s lens naturally clump together, causing cloudiness. These resulting cataracts prevent the lens from properly focusing light, resulting in blurry vision with dulled colors, making it difficult to enjoy countless everyday activities.
At Oklahoma Eye Surgeons, we are prepared to help you choose the right cataract treatment for your unique vision needs, and we can conduct your procedure at our clinic’s surgery suite.
Is It Time for Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts start developing earlier than many people might expect. Often, they start forming in your 40s and 50s, becoming more likely with age. However, they are usually not noticeable until they progress enough to impair your vision and normal lifestyle.
If cataracts begin to limit your ability to perform everyday tasks, such as driving and reading, it is time to consider cataract surgery.
What to Know About Cataracts
What causes a cataract to develop?
The cause is often the natural aging process. As children, the lenses in our eyes are clear. Around the age of 40, the proteins within the lens start to break down and build up, forming clumps or deposits.
These deposits—cataracts—block light from passing through your eye’s lens, which disrupts normal vision. It may also cause your lens to turn cloudy, brown, or yellow, affecting your ability to perceive colors.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Cataract symptoms may include:
- Difficulty driving at night.
- Difficulty seeing distant objects.
- Blurry vision or dim vision.
- Sensitivity to light and glare.
- Halos around lights.
- Dull, washed-out colors.
What are the common risk factors for cataracts?
Factors that may increase your likelihood of developing a cataract include:
- A family history of cataracts, especially at a young age.
- Diabetes.
- Smoking.
- High blood pressure.
- Obesity.
- Excessive long-term exposure to the sun and UV rays.
- Steroid medication use.
- Past eye injury or inflammation.
- Previous eye surgeries.
Exploring Your Cataract Surgery Options
If you have cataracts, eye surgery is the only way to fully restore visual clarity. For this, your surgeon will remove your clouded natural lens and position a clear intraocular replacement lens (IOL) in its place.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, so you can return home shortly after. If your surgery is with Dr. Sarkisian, it will take place at our surgery suite. Depending on your vision goals, Dr. Sarkisian may recommend basic or advanced cataract surgery.
Advanced Cataract Surgery
Also called refractive cataract surgery, advanced cataract surgery is a specialized procedure that corrects vision across multiple distances, significantly reducing or even eliminating the need for glasses. The surgery can also correct astigmatism and presbyopia.
Your surgeon will use an advanced femtosecond laser to create precise incisions in the cornea. The laser then gently softens and breaks the cataract; if needed, it can make additional incisions to correct astigmatism. The lens is carefully removed and replaced with an advanced IOL, resolving issues related to both cataracts and presbyopia.
The recovery process is quick and comfortable, with most patients back to their normal routines within only a few days.
Procedure Time
The procedure is about 15 minutes long. Your eyes will be treated on separate days.
Recovery
Most patients notice results within 24-48 hours. Final vision outcomes are achieved in about 4-6 weeks.
Follow-Up
Follow-up visits with your surgeon will ensure the new lens is performing as expected.
Basic Cataract Surgery
Basic cataract surgery is a highly effective, standard procedure that corrects your vision for one distance. Depending on your needs and preferences, this could be intermediate, arm’s length, or distance vision. With this option, you will still need glasses to see clearly at other distances.
For this procedure, your surgeon will manually create a small incision in the cornea, gently break up and remove the cloudy natural lens, and then implant a monofocal IOL.
Recovery is generally comfortable, and most patients can resume normal, light activities within a few days.
Procedure Time
The surgery typically lasts only 15 minutes. Your eyes will be treated on separate days.
Recovery
Most patients notice clearer sight in 24-48 hours. Vision will continue to sharpen over 4-6 weeks.
Follow-Up
Follow-up appointments with your cataract surgeon will ensure your eye is healing properly.
Which IOL Is Right for Me?
Your eyesight and health are important, so it is equally important to make the right IOL selection. Each lens is designed to correct vision in a different way, so the ideal option will depend on the kind of vision you want to enjoy after surgery. For example:
- Would you like to restore visual focus at one distance while wearing glasses for clarity at other distances?
- Do you need clearer vision at multiple distances with less dependence on glasses?
- Are you looking to correct both cataracts and astigmatism in one convenient procedure?
At Oklahoma Eye Surgeons, our experienced team is prepared to help you select the best lens based on your eye health and vision needs.
Trust Oklahoma Eye Surgeons With Your Cataract Treatments
If you are seeking cataract treatment, choosing the right eye care is essential to restoring your vision and enhancing your quality of life. At Oklahoma Eye Surgeons, we work with precision, innovation, and fully personalized care to ensure the best possible outcomes for each patient.
Acting with advanced technology and compassionate support, we are dedicated to helping you see clearly again. Take the first step toward better vision today by scheduling your appointment.