• Clouding of the lens inside eye
  • Slow growing or rapid development
  • Will eventually happen to everyone
  • Common over 65
  • Causes blurred vision or glare (especially at night)
  • Treatment is glasses, contact lenses or surgery
 
Normal eye; notice the clear lens
(shaped like a bean)		   Cataract; notice the cloudiness of the lens

What is a cataract?

A cataract is simply a clouding of the lens inside the eye. There are several causes of cataracts. Most are caused by years of  UV exposure from the sun. Everyone eventually gets cataracts.  A cataract is not, as many people believe, a skin growing over the eye.  The affected lens is on the inside of the eye and is located behind the pupil which normally appears as a small, black hold in the center of the colored part of the eye.  Normally, the lens is transparent and clear.  But, because of age, disease, injury, or a birth defect, the lens becomes cloudy or yellow, loses its transparency and light rays are scattered as they pass through it, causing blurred vision. 


Types of Cataracts

  • Age Related Cataract (Senile)
  • Traumatic Cataract
  • Diabetic Cataract
  • Drug Induced Cataract
  • Congenital
  • Secondary (in house link)

AGE RELATED (SENILE)

The most common form of cataract is the type that occurs in the elderly. Its cause is due to years of exposure to ultra violet rays. It usually occurs in both eyes although not always at the same time.  Cataracts may develop very slowly and never impair vision to the point where surgery is needed or they may progress rapidly.  Even though it is evident that the members of certain families seem to be more prone to cataract formation, the commonly held belief by most eye doctors is that senile cataracts are not a congenital or inherited problem.  Actually, almost every person 65 years or so of age will show some opacities in the lens.  But these irregularities may not seriously interfere with sight.  Some lens opacities tend to become worse as time passes.  No way is known to science to prevent this progression by medical treatment.  Diet, drops, or pills are of no help.

TRAUMATIC

When a sharp object like a pin, needle, knife, or scissors point accidentally penetrates the lens, the injury can cause a cataract.  Such penetrating injuries are especially common in children and industrial workers.  Flying particles of metal may perforate the eye and injure the lens, causing a cataract.  Protective safety lenses should always be work, regardless of age, whenever anyone is in danger of being struck by such particles.

DIABETIC

Cataracts can also be caused or aggravated by diabetes and other diseases.


CONGENITAL
Infants can be born with cataracts, a condition caused either by heredity or by problems during pregnancy such as a rubella (German measles) infection of the mother during the first three months.

ADVANCED TECHNOLGY
At Skowron Eyecare, we have the technology to actually photograph and/or video tape YOUR  cataract. We can review it together to determine what the best possible course of action should be. Sometimes having cataract surgery, WOULD NOT improve vision. We have the technology that will tell us if surgery would be beneficial.

 

Above left: Doctor's and retinal camera's blurred view of the retina (back of the eye) that has a cataract as photographed and monitored in our office.


Above right: Clear view of the retina (back of the eye) with the retinal camera. This is why we recommend baseline, routine retinal photography that be used as a reference point for better diagnosis.

CATARACT SURGERY

  • Surgery is fully explained in the office with a video presentation
  • Lens Implant options custom designed for your case are discussed at the time of your evaluation
  • Referral to the appropriate, most skilled surgeon for your particular type of cataract
  • Surgery is out patient, no-stitch, no pain
  • Vision improvement is usually within a day or two
  • Weekly follow-up visits at our office, to minimize healing time
  • Surgery on the other eye (if needed), 2-3 weeks later

Below, left: Very advanced cataract. Notice how the normally black pupil is cloudy and milky .
Below, right: Early cataract: Notice the white cloudiness between 7 and 9 o'clock.

 



Actual picture of a lens implant after surgery through a dilated eye
(photo taken by SEC)		   Graphic picture of an lens implant after cataract removal
 

Removal of cataracts: Pre and Post Operative care is essential for a successful outcome

  • At Skowron Eye Care, we oversee all your pre and post operative evaluations.
  • When an early cataract appears, its progress will be carefully watched.  Surgery is usually not advised until the cataract begins to affect vision to a significant degree.  Intensified eye research in recent years has led to a number of new techniques for cataract removal. It is now a suture-less procedure, done as an out-patient basis.
  • Dr. Streiff advising a patient on cataract surgery
    There is ONLY local anesthesia. The surgery takes between 10-15 minutes. There is essentially no pain.
  • You are only restricted from swimming, heavy exercise, or bending over for about a week.
  • Together at your examination, we will decide if surgery is the right treatment for you. We will determine which type of cataract implant will best suit your lifestyle. We will discuss at great lengths, what possible outcomes you can expect. Patients that have had glasses their entire lives, can now have the power of the lens implant adjusted to that of their current glasses, so that after surgery, glasses may be needed only on a limited basis !
  • We take the time to find out your needs and desires, and expectations.
  • Do you want to be able to see at distance without glasses?
  • Do you want to be able to read without glasses?
  • Do you want to be able to read and see distance without glasses? (only in some specific cases)
  • We will make sure you are totally informed before any surgery is performed.
  • We work with only the best surgeons that have consistently provided excellent results. Only an eye surgeon can remove a cataract and insert the appropriate implant (per our recommendations).
  • Implants can be custom designed to enable you to see clearly without glasses for distance vision, or close vision. In some specific cases you may not need to wear glasses at all!
  • The success of cataract surgery should not be measured if some form of glasses are needed or not.

COMMON MISBELIEFS

  • TV makes cataracts worse -  FALSE
  • Reading, Knitting, other close activities makes cataracts worse – FALSE
  • Initial Cataracts can be removed with lasers – FALSE; THEY NEED TO BE SURGICALLY REMOVED
  • Cataracts cannot be removed using laser beams.  Lasers are used only to treat a clouded membrane that sometimes form in the eye after the initial cataract surgery (called a Secondary Cataract--in house link). This can form only once between 3 months and 3 years and is removed in office with a laser. The procedure is painless and takes about 7 minutes.
  • Ointments, bills and drops do not cure cataracts.
 
    Photo of patient at SEC with secondary Cataract. Treated with an in office 5-7 min laser application.

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