Restoring Clear Vision with Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness and affect more than half of Americans aged 65 and above. While aging is the primary cause of cataract formation, there are other reasons why protein build up in the eye's lens and impair vision.

Blunt trauma, radiation from UV light and microwave, smoking, and drug use increase the chances of adults to develop cataracts. Some prescribed medications also put individuals at higher risk. Babies born with cataract or those who get them as children inherit genetic components that provide less protection to the lens. Likewise, skin diseases such as eczema may spread to the lens and wreak havoc due to similarities between skin and lens compositions.

Clouding, or the whitening of lens fibers, blocks light from completely passing through the lens from the pupil to the retina and results in partial blindness that afflicts many cataract patients. If unattended, buildup in the lens will result in total blindness. The good news is that surgery is possible in all stages of cataract and more than 90 percent of patients report better eyesight after the procedure.

There are several surgical techniques that could be used in treating cataract, but all of them involve the extraction of the clouded lens and the implantation of clear artificial intraocular lens, usually made of silicone or acrylic. Some of these lenses do not just restore clarity but also correct vision impairment, eliminating the need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses post surgery.