Background
 Cataract
surgery, the most commonly performed out-patient
surgical procedure in the United States, provides patients
with an improved level of visual acuity thereby enhancing
one’s quality of life. Research studies have shown that
this surgery and its resultant improvement in visual acuity
can enhance one’s activities of daily living and functioning
making it safer to ambulate, especially for the elderly. At
the very least, cataract surgery not only has the potential
to improve one’s visual acuity but now, with optional,
advanced premium multi-focal, astigmatic and mono-vision lens
implants, permits better unaided vision for both distance
and near resulting in more independence from eyeglasses.
Definition
 The crystalline lens of the eye is primarily responsible for focusing
incoming rays of light onto the retina, the tissue in the
back of the eye that is analogous to the film in a camera.
A cataract is a medical condition in which the crystalline
lens of the eye is no longer clear but cloudy. The lens can
become yellow, dense white, brownish or even covered with
a coating much like frosted glass --- all resulting in the
lens’ inability to focus light clearly on the retina.
This results in blurred vision for distance or near and sometimes
both; it also manifests as increased glare with lights (such
as on coming car headlights) and difficulty in reading small
printed material. Causes of cataract first and foremost include
aging. However, medications such as high dose and prolonged
use of oral steroids may lead to premature cataract formation.
Additionally, cataracts may be caused by direct trauma to
the eye, diabetes, metabolic disorders and even congenital
conditions present at birth.
Most people will develop cataracts to some degree as they
age. However, not all people will develop a visually significant
cataract, in other words a cataract that decreases visual
acuity and interferes with activities of daily living. Fortunately,
when one does indeed develop a cataract that is visually
significant, the out-patient surgical treatment is relatively
minor, safe, painless and highly successful in the absence
of any other co-existing ocular disorders (such as glaucoma,
macular degeneration, retinal disorders and optic nerve problems).
Diagnosis
 Symptoms
of cataracts are usually first noticed by the patient
(with symptoms of blurred vision) and then diagnosed
by an eye healthcare professional such as an optometrist or
ophthalmologist. A comprehensive, dilated eye examination
will usually reveal the cataract to be the cause of the decreased
visual acuity. Other ocular disorders and diseases must be
ruled out to determine the potential for improving one’s
vision with cataract surgery alone. In patients whose only
ocular problem is a visually significant cataract and in the
absence of any other eye conditions, the prognosis for improving
the vision with cataract surgery is usually excellent. Even
in patients with other co-existing ocular conditions such
as glaucoma, mild, dry macular degeneration or even amblyopia
(lazy eye), cataract surgery may be able to provide some
level of vision improvement. An informed decision is
made by the patient, along with guidance from his eye doctor
and family, if and when to proceed with this elective, out-patient
surgery.
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