If you are seeing things cloudier than usual, it may not be the weather. Unfortunately, it could be that you are developing cataracts, which LASIK doctors in Los Angeles make us aware that the lens in one of your eye, or both eyes, has become partly or totally cloudy.
Ophthalmologists at the LASIK eye center in Los Angeles such as Excel Laser Vision Institute tell us that the lens has an important role in helping us see clearly. When a person looks at something, light passes through the clear cover or cornea, which bends it and transmits it inside the eye to the lens. Then, the lens focuses the light onto the retina, which works similar to the film in a camera, but inside the eye. Afterward, the retina forwards the information to the brain.
For some of us, as we age, our lenses begin to alter and go from clear to cloudy which can stop the retina from receiving a sharp image, and the image you see becomes blurry. If this happens to you, you may be thinking if you are developing cataracts, and have a few questions about what you can do. Here are a few commonly asked questions and answers regarding this eye condition:
How Do You Know If You Have Cataracts?
LASIK doctors in Los Angeles say that if you are over 60 years of age and notice that your vision is beginning to get cloudy or fuzzy and colors seem faded, you may have cataracts.
Unfortunately, optometrists at the LASIK Los Angeles center like Excel Laser Vision Institute find that some patients start to experience these symptoms as early as in their 40s or 50s. Other alterations in vision to look out for include reduced night vision, halos around lights and double vision.
Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process, even though it can happen at any stage of a person’s life. Also, it is a common eye condition if you have diabetes, en eye injury, or use steroid eye drops or tablets. People are at higher risk for cataracts if they smoke, drink alcohol and have a poor diet. If you detect any changes in your vision or believe you have cataracts, schedule an appointment with an eye care professional.
What Tests Will My Eye Doctor Give Me?
Besides giving the patient a thorough eye exam, the ophthalmologist or optometrist will do the following:
- Give the patient a visual acuity test, which involves making him or her read an eye chart, to assess their distance and near vision and check if the vision issues can simply be fixed with glasses.
- Examine the front of the patient’s eyes, including the lens, using a special microscope called a slit lamp.
- Dilate the eyes using special drops to open the pupils to examine the inside of the eyes, including the lens (cataract), retina and optic nerve.
Do I Need Eye Surgery?
This all depends on how severe your cataracts is. Some cataracts remain small and may not have to be removed, but if they begin to hinder a person’s everyday activities, then your doctor may advise you to consider surgery.
Normally, a cataracts procedure is an outpatient operation. During the operation, the cataract surgeon, which is also known as a refractive surgeon, will get rid of the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant.
Traditional cataract surgery is very effective and there are new alternatives for cataract surgery that may be an excellent option to talk about with your eye surgeon.
What IOL Lens Options Are Available?
Fortunately, there are many types of IOL technologies at hand, which include standard or monofocal lenses, which can correct vision at one range of distance such as near, far or intermediate.
The most state-of-the-art multifocal or accommodative intraocular lenses can help you see near as well as far objects with a reduced, and perhaps even a total reduction, in the requirement for eyeglasses.
On the other hand, toric intraocular lenses can help correct astigmatism and distance vision, but you might still need glasses for reading purposes. Similar to LASIK, there is an IOL monovision option, which uses two different lenses to correct near vision in one eye and distance vision in the other. Have a chat about your vision goals with your eye surgeon to find out what the best IOL technology is to suit your lifestyle.
Can I Delay Getting Cataracts?
There are many simple lifestyle choices you can make to could help you delay the onset of cataracts. For instance, wear sunglasses with UV protection and a hat. Do not smoke. Consume a healthy diet that consists of a lot of fruit and vegetables since they are high in protective antioxidants such as Vitamin C, A, and E. Additionally, and this is worth repeating, regular visits to your eye doctor is vital for your vision and general health.
Will It Matter If I Had LASIK Eye Surgery Before?
No, it does not matter. As a matter of fact, cataract surgery can be performed after many laser vision correction procedures, such as LASIK, PRK, and SMILE.
It is good to know that LASIK and other laser vision correction techniques are performed on the cornea, which is the front surface of the eye. Cataract surgery involves replacing the lens of the eye which lies behind the pupil. The cornea and the lens are both responsible for keeping the eye focused, but they are different structures.
That being said, it is imperative to make your cataract surgeon aware of any previous eye surgeries. Also, it is useful to provide your eye surgeon with copies of your eye exams that were carried out before your LASIK or other laser vision correction procedure.
Don’t stress out if you can’t find your pre-LASIK records since cataract surgery can still be successfully performed without them. However, if you are interested in the latest vision-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) technologies available to cataracts patients, those records can provide your eye surgeon information that could help to determine the best focusing power of the IOL for your cataract surgery.
If you want more information about cataracts, cataracts surgery, and vision-correcting IOLs, do not wait any longer to give Excel Laser Vision Institute a call at (818) 907-8606, or fill out our contact form today!
