What is a Cataract?

CATARACTS

A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens in your eye becomes cloudy, eventually impairing your vision.

The most common complaint due to cataracts is blurred vision in one or both eyes. The vision may worsen slowly over months or years. Some people experience difficulty reading, especially small print. Some have trouble driving in bright sunlight or at night, especially if it’s raining. Cataracts need no treatment if you can see well enough to do all of your daily activities without difficulty.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Blurry or dim vision

  • Poor night vision

  • Halos around lights

  • Sensitivity to light and glare

  • Need for brighter light for reading and other activities

  • Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription

TREATMENT

In some cases, a stronger glasses prescription may delay the need for surgery. If you are experiencing any, or all of these problems, you should consider having cataract surgery.

Dr. Arleo and Dr. Zablocki perform Cataract surgery at the Surgicare Center across the road from the office, they will remove the cataract and replace it with a clear artificial lens. It is an outpatient procedure, you will get sedative for anesthesia, the surgery is painless, no stitches or patches are required. Your vision will be blurry for a few days. If you are having both eyes done, we recommend doing them 1 week apart.

To prevent infection and swelling and to promote healing after cataract surgery, there are prescription eye drops that you will use before and after the surgery. They are a steroid, an antibiotic, and an NSAID

Our surgical coordinators will call to check on you the afternoon/evening of your surgery and we will see you for a post operative appointment in the office the next day. You will also be scheduled for a 2 week post operative appointment, your Doctor will address glasses prescription needs at this appointment.

It is common to notice clouding of your vision after Cataract surgery, this is because the bag that holds the artificial lens has become cloudy, to treat this Dr. Arleo and Dr. Zablocki perform a YAG capsulotomy. This is an in office procedure, the laser treatment itself takes a few minutes but you can expect to be in the office for 1-2 hours. There are no restrictions after the laser treatment.