A person may start to become at a greater risk of developing vision problems as they age, and in this regard, cataracts are fairly common issues that people can experience. This is essentially when the lens of the eye starts to become cloudy. While these vision problems can be treated, patients often have a very limited understanding about this condition. For patients that are suffering from cataracts, it is important to understand the following answers to questions about treating this vision issue.
When Do You Need To Have Cataracts Treated?
In most cases, cataracts develop at a very slow rate, and this means that you may not necessarily need to have them surgically removed right away. There are drops and other medications that can be used to slow the development of cataracts, and you doctor may be able to delay you need this surgery for an extended period of time by using these treatments.
However, these will not reverse the condition; it will one day be necessary to undergo surgery to have the cataracts removed. Typically, this will need to be done soon after the cataracts start to seriously degrade your vision. To ensure you do not wait too long to have this surgery done, you should have your eyes checked to monitor the progress of the condition, so visit optometrists, like those at Midwest Eye Care PC, regularly.
How Will Surgery Correct Your Cataracts?
During cataract surgery, your doctor will remove the lens of the eye and replace it with an artificial one. This is done by making a small incision in the eye to remove the lens. While this is an advanced surgery, it is minimally invasive. In fact, it is often possible for your doctor to make this incision using lasers, which can help to drastically reduce the recovery time you will need.
Once the compromised lens has been extracted, an artificial one will be inserted through the incision before it is sealed with the laser. You may experience light sensitivity and general discomfort in the eye for the first few days after having this done, but your doctor may prescribe you special numbing eyedrops to help you manage this discomfort.
Developing cataracts is an issue that many people will suffer at some point in their lives. Left untreated, this issue can severely compromise your vision, but being an informed patient may help you to understand when this issue should be treated and how the surgery will correct this problem. By being informed, you can make sure that you are making sound decisions when it comes to treating your eyes.
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