If you or a loved one are struggling with cloudy vision, it may be time to see an eye care professional for a cataract evaluation. For many people, cataracts are a normal part of the aging process. Cataracts don’t cause pain, and sometimes, they’re small enough that they don’t cause any symptoms. Some people choose to ignore cataracts, but it’s important to watch them closely and take action if the become severe. Not all cataracts will require surgery. The earlier that an eye care professional performs a cataract evaluation, the more likely it is that eye surgery will be able to provide you with vision correction. If left untreated, cataracts can eventually take your vision. Because your quality of life is important to us we tailor our Baltimore cataract surgery as well as other treatments and procedures to best meet your needs. A life without glasses or contacts is possible with our cataract procedures.
Cataract Surgery
LASER CATARACT SURGERY BENEFITS
For some patients, this condition can be very difficult because it can prevent them from participating in normal daily activities, such as reading or driving. A corrective procedure to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL) can restore a patient’s visual acuity. In addition to improved visual clarity, there are many other benefits of cataract surgery performed by Dr. Goel. Namely, Dr. Goel performs Refractive Cataract Surgery by performing laser-assisted cataract surgery with Premium IOLs in an effort to maximize your visual results. The most apparent benefit of cataract surgery is clearer, sharper vision. There are different types of IOLs that you can choose from to meet your goals and needs. Traditional monofocal IOLs will provide you with clear vision at one distance, while multifocal IOLs provide focus at a range of distances. Dr. Goel can help you determine and provide information about which type of lens will best suit your needs and give treatment or procedures based on this information.
LASER CATARACT SURGERY RESULTS
After your laser cataract surgery, your surgeon will give you aftercare instructions to make sure your eyes heal safely. As your eyes begin to heal from the surgery, you may experience blurry vision, just like when you still had cataracts. This is normal, and nothing to worry about. Most people find that the blurriness fades within a few days of the surgery. You may also notice that colors seem much sharper than they did before your cataract surgery. Think about the lens of your eye like a window. With your old lens, the window was dirty, distorting objects which makes it hard to see the vibrancy of the world around you. After surgery, not only has the window been wiped clean- it’s been replaced with a brand new window. Through replacing your lens, our vision may be completely restored, and it can be shocking to see the stark contrast with how your surroundings used to appear.
In addition to having your vision restored, cataract surgery can also increase your independence. Many cataract patients have had to rely on others to help them with their daily routines because they are not able to drive, or cannot see clearly enough to accomplish other tasks. It can be frustrating to need help to do activities you used to take care of on your own. By restoring your vision with cataract surgery, you can regain your freedom and enjoy an enhanced quality of life. You’ll notice that cloudy vision is cleared up almost immediately, and a strong prescription may be lessened as soon as your cataracts are removed. Cataracts are the #1 cause of reversible blindness in the world today. There is no reason to suffer- laser cataract surgery is accurate, safe, and minimally invasive.
It can be frightening to think of someone performing surgery on your eye, but cataract surgery has been proven safe time and time again. When you come in for your first appointment at Goel Vision surgery center, our cataract surgeon will work with you to make sure you understand the procedure. During your cataract evaluation, our eye care team will explain your cataract situation to you. You’ll never be wondering what’s going to happen next in your laser cataract surgery procedure – our eye care professionals will be with you every step of the way. Our laser cataract removal surgery is minimally invasive, and recovery is fast. At our surgery center, we understand that you’ll want to get back to your improved life as soon as possible, and we’re here to help you do exactly that following your cataract surgery.
HOW CATARACTS FORM
Your natural crystalline lens is made up of water and protein. It stands behind the pupil and focuses light onto the retina, which transmits signals to the brain. Think of the retina as being the film of a camera. Cataracts occur when the proteins within the crystalline lens begin to cluster together, creating cloudy areas on the lens, which can prevent light from reaching your retina. There is nothing that can be done to prevent the clumping of these proteins. For most adults over 50, cataracts are a natural part of the aging process.
Initially, cataracts may not cause any symptoms. People only know that they have cataracts when symptoms begin to show. These protein clusters can become larger over time, gradually obscuring more and more of your vision. It can be scary to see that your vision is changing, but there’s no need to live with a visual impairment due to cataracts. Laser cataract surgery is safe, effective, and has a short recovery period.
There are different types of cataracts. When you come to our surgery center for your cataract evaluation, we’ll examine your unique cataracts to allow us to develop a personalized surgical plan. The most common types of cataracts include:
- Nuclear sclerotic: These are the most common types of cataracts, and they’re almost always related to the aging process. Nuclear refers to the middle part of the lens of the eye, while sclerotic describes the hardening of the lens. For people with nuclear sclerotic cataracts, their vision may improve for a short period of time, due to changes in the eye’s lens changing the eye’s ability to focus. This improvement is short lived, and is quickly followed by a worsening of vision.
- Cortical: These types of cataracts result in clouding along the edge of the eye’s lens. While anyone can get a cortical cataract, they’re most common in people who have diabetes. When this type of cataract becomes severe, it can be seen by looking at the eye. It appears as the spokes of a wheel coming from the outer edge of the iris, pointing in towards the pupil of the eye.
- Posterior subcapsular: This type of cataract forms on the back of the eye’s lens. This cataract progresses rapidly, and can cause loss of vision quickly when left untreated. Anyone can develop a posterior subcapsular cataract, but they’re most common in people who have diabetes, people who use or have used steroids, and people who are extremely nearsighted.
SYMPTOMS OF CATARACTS: DRY EYE, POOR VISION, AND MORE
If you or a loved one think that you may be suffering from cataracts, it’s likely that you’ve already noticed some of the initial symptoms of the condition. Cataract symptoms may include:
- Double vision in one eye. If your vision seems cloudy, you can check to see if you’re having double vision in one eye by covering an eye with your hand and attempting to focus on a single object with the uncovered eye. If you’re not able to do so, it’s likely that you’re experiencing single eye double vision.
- Dry eye is a common symptom of cataracts. If you notice that you’re constantly having to use eye drops, or find that your eyes are feeling red and irritated seemingly for no reason, there’s a chance you may be dealing with cataracts.
- Yellowing/ fading of colors. If some of the objects or furnishings in your home are beginning to look dingy, it’s possible that your view of them is changing. Talk with a friend or family member to ask them if they’ve noticed a color change. This will give you some insight into whether the color of walls, curtains, or furniture are actually changing, or if your vision may be going through a change.
- Frequent eyeglass or contact lens prescription change. It’s normal for vision to get worse with the aging process, but excessive prescription changes may signal a bigger problem. If you find that your prescription changes each year at your annual eye appointment, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the possibility of cataracts.
- Need for bright light, or sensitivity to light. If you find that reading with a bright light is easier or harder than reading in normal light, it’s a sign that you may need a cataract evaluation.
- Cloudy or blurry vision. One of the hallmark signs of cataracts, double or blurry vision indicates that the cloudy cataract is directly in the line that your eye uses to see. You may find that your cloudy or blurry vision comes and goes. If the cataract is small, it may move around the inside of your eye, only blocking your sight from time to time. As your cataract grows large, you’ll find that your vision is impaired by it more and more.
CATARACT SURGEONS BALTIMORE
Whether you’re struggling with dry eye, noticing that your vision is becoming blurry, or noticing that your vision correction prescription has changed a number of times in recent years, it’s important to have your symptoms evaluated by an eye care professional at a surgery center. If you’ve decided that it’s time to have a cataract evaluation in Baltimore, there’s a good chance that you already know you’re dealing with the symptoms of a cataract. It’s important that you work with a surgeon you can trust when you decide to have surgery on your eyes. At Goel Vision, Dr. Sonny Goel takes pride in walking patients through the procedure one step at a time, answering any questions that you may have about your cataract surgery. Dr. Goel began providing cataract surgery in 1997 and has more than twenty years of experience with cataract vision correction. Even if your vision is not the best, we work to make sure you’re able to see well enough to function and complete normal daily activities.
In order to further improve your vision during your cataract surgery, we’ll provide information and talk with you about lens options. This can work wonders in restoring your vision to what it once was. You may even find that you no longer need contacts or glasses. Lens options are a wonderful option for many patients during cataract-removal surgery. We recommend that all of our patients undergoing cataract surgery also look into premium lens options to be implanted if possible.
While we do this surgery regularly in our surgical facility, we understand that each person has a unique cataract problem and a unique eye history. We never approach a patient as a run-of-the- mill case. After your cataract evaluation, we complete a unique surgical treatment plan, specific to your needs. We work to improve your quality of life in the most minimally invasive way possible. Our goal is to help you regain your independence without dealing with a long recovery time.
CALL GOEL VISION
Patients appreciate that Dr. Goel is up to date in the latest developments in laser cataract surgery and vision correction. Our state of the art eye center is committed to providing our patients with top of the line eye care, whether you need your normal eye exam or are coming to us for laser cataract surgery. When it comes to your eyes, we understand that you have your choice of surgery centers. We’re glad you’re considering Goel Vision. We’re here to answer any questions that you may have about your cataract evaluation or laser cataract surgery. Please don’t hesitate to give our conveniently located office a call to schedule your first appointment with us. We look forward to providing treatment to help you see clearly.
