When an individual no longer sees clearly, cataracts may be causing the problem. Many patients refer to it as seeing through a haze or having blurry vision. A cataract surgeon in Appleton WI can examine the patient’s eyes and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Once cataracts have been removed, the patient will see the world in a much clearer light.
About Cataracts
Cataracts are a medical condition that causes an opaque layer to form on the lens of the eye. A Cataract will inhibit light rays from entering the lens of the eye, resulting in blurry vision. The condition usually worsens over time, so it’s important to seek treatment to avoid permanent vision loss.
Symptoms
The first signs of a cataract may go unnoticed, as an individual may think they are normal changes a new pair of glasses will take care of. However, that may not be the case. Symptoms can include sensitivity to light, blurry vision, double vision in an eye, difficulty with night vision, feeling as if the lights need to be brighter to see, faded colors, seeing halos around lights, and blurry vision even when wearing glasses. A visit to an eye doctor can provide a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
The only known treatment for a cataract is surgery. A cataract surgeon in Appleton WI can remove the patient’s natural lens containing the cataract and replace it with an implant lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. This new lens will allow the eye to act as it did before a cataract appeared.
Recovery
After surgery, the recovery period is usually around three to four weeks, but it can vary from patient to patient. During this time, the patient will need to use prescribed eye drops to prevent an infection from occurring. No rubbing of the eyes, and wearing protective eyewear can aid in faster healing. A patient should not resume driving until the doctor okays it.
Being diagnosed with cataracts can evoke fear in many people, but the process to remove them is painless. Most importantly, even though the patient is awake during surgery, the only thing that might be seen from their end is light and possibly some movement, not the actual surgery itself. For more information regarding cataracts and their treatment, please browse our website.
