The month of June is Cataract Awareness Month. Therefore, it’s important to educate others and make people aware of this condition. Around 60% of people over the age of 60 will develop cataracts.
With statistics of this magnitude, it is important to understand what cataracts are, show how they affect the vision, and what treatment options are available. The sooner people are aware of the condition, the sooner they can look to Houston Cataract Surgery.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are protein deposits which develop over the eye’s lens over time. Some people develop this condition in just one eye and some in both. It is not uncommon for a cataract to be worse in one eye than the other. These protein deposits make a person’s vision cloudy, almost as if they are looking out a dirty window. They can also affect a person’s visual acuity and make patients sensitive to the light.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
This condition is treated through a very non-invasive surgery. The surgery is done as an outpatient procedure and the patient remains awake the entire time. Some are given a mild sedative to calm their nerves during the surgery. During this procedure, the ophthalmologist removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new, prosthetic lens.
After the procedure, your vision may be blurry for a few days. You would be required to put antibiotic drops in your eyes to prevent infection. You would also need to follow up with your ophthalmologist in three days. Within two weeks to a month after your surgery, your vision would be well enough to where you can be measured for a new eyeglass prescription.
Who Develops Cataracts?
Cataracts are most commonly seen in people who are age 60 or over. In some very rare cases, this condition can set in much earlier, even in childhood.
It is important that people understand the symptoms and the treatments available for cataracts. The more you understand about cataracts, the sooner you can get the treatment that you need. Contact us today to see one of Houston’s premier cataract surgeons, Dr. John Goosey.
