Cataract Surgery & Treatment in Lakewood, CO
Cataracts are an eye ailment that commonly affects elderly persons. The condition occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, resulting in blurry or hazy vision.
Cataracts make it difficult to perform daily tasks such as reading, driving, or even recognizing faces. However, with the right treatment, such as cataract surgery, you can regain clear vision and resume normal activities.
This post will go over types of cataract surgery, their symptoms, and how Denver Vision can help you diagnose and treat cataracts in Lakewood, CO.
What Is Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is a medical procedure that removes a blurry or cloudy natural lens from a patient’s eye and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. The natural lens of the eye contains mostly water and protein. As we age, the protein in the lens can clump together, resulting in opacity or fuzziness in vision. This condition is referred to as cataracts.
Cataract surgery involves creating a tiny incision in the eye and using ultrasound energy to break up the cloudy lens. The fragments of the lens are then delicately suctioned out of the eye. After removing the natural lens, an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is positioned.
Several types of IOLs can correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Our cataract surgeon will collaborate with you to determine the most suitable IOL type to meet your requirements. Cataract surgery recovery time for this condition is about eight weeks, during which follow-up appointments may be necessary for proper healing.
Cataract Symptoms
Cataracts develop gradually and may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. As the cataract progresses, however, the following symptoms may appear:
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Sensitivity to bright lights and glare
- Colors appearing faded or yellowed
- Halos around lights
- Double vision in one eye
What Are the Different Types of Cataracts?
Cataracts come in different forms, and their causes differ from one type to another. Here are five common types of cataracts:
Age-related cataracts
This is the most common type of cataract. It usually appears in seniors who are over 60 years of age and is a result of proteins clumping in the eye’s lens. This causes obscurity and gradually deteriorates your eyesight.
Symptoms of age-related cataracts include:
- Unclear or fuzzy vision
- Challenges seeing in the dark
- Light sensitivity
- A yellowing of colors.
Congenital cataracts
Congenital cataracts are present at birth or develop during childhood. They result from infections during pregnancy, such as rubella or other factors.
Symptoms may include:
- Poor visual tracking in infants
- Uncontrollable eye movements or Nystagmus
- A white or cloudy appearance on the pupil
Secondary cataracts
Secondary cataracts may develop from underlying conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Prolonged use of certain medications like steroids
- Eye surgeries for other eye problems, such as glaucoma
Symptoms of secondary cataracts are similar to age-related cataracts.
Traumatic cataracts
Depending on the severity of the injury, traumatic cataracts may develop immediately or years after the injury.
Here are its symptoms:
- Decreased vision
- Double vision
- Cloudy or opaque lens appearance
Diagnosing Cataracts
To diagnose cataracts, a thorough medical history and eye examination are necessary. Diagnostic procedures may include a visual acuity test and pupil dilation. Your eye care professional may also perform additional tests to better understand your eye’s health and structure. These tests determine the severity of the cataract and the best course of treatment.
See Denver Vision For Cataract Surgery in Lakewood, CO
Cataract surgery is an effective procedure to restore vision. If you are experiencing vision problems due to cataracts, it’s important to seek advice from a trusted eye care provider.
Whether you seek cataract surgery or other eye care services, Denver Vision is a reliable and reputable provider that can help you achieve optimal eye health and vision.
Request an appointment with our team of Cataract Treatment Specialists at Denver Vision.
Featured Image: Roman Zaiets / Shutterstock