Cataract surgery is a procedure done to remove a clouded lens from your eye. When the normally clear lens of an eye becomes cloudy, it’s called a cataract. If you have a cataract, you may feel like you’re looking through a dusty windshield all the time. You may even have difficulty with normal day-to-day activities, such as driving or reading.
If a cataract is disrupting your vision, cataract surgery gives you a new beginning for your sight. Your ophthalmologist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, New York has the expertise to diagnose and treat cataracts. No matter what visual disturbances you may have, you benefit by visiting a medical practice with many specialties under one roof.
Can You Prevent Cataracts?
Taking a proactive approach to your overall health may delay or even prevent the development of cataracts and other disorders affecting your vision. Some actions you can take to protect your eye health include:
• Protecting your eyes from sunlight. Wear sunglasses that screen out ultraviolet rays. Hats with wide brims also give you an added layer of protection from harmful UV rays.
• Quitting smoking. Smoking interrupts circulation, vital to your eye health as well as your overall well-being. Your Medex doctor provides strategies to quit.
• Eating a healthy diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables — and not only carrots — while choosing other nutrient-dense foods keeps you as healthy as possible. That includes your eye health.
• Taking vitamin supplements. Vitamins A, C and E, as well as beta-carotene, deliver optimal eye health. Talk to your doctor about taking supplements when you don’t get sufficient amounts of these vital nutrients in your diet.
• Limiting alcohol use. Excessive drinking raises the risk of developing cataracts. Even one drink a day increases your risk by about 10 percent.
Manage any medical conditions you have, such as diabetes. Regular eye exams by your ophthalmologist identifies cataracts early, which delays your need for surgery. Checkups also catch any other problems you may have with eye health.
The Causes and Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts are common as you get older. Around the age of 40, the proteins in the lens of your eyes start to break down, causing a cloudy area on your lens. Cataracts aren’t always caused by aging, though. They may also be caused by medical conditions, inherited genetic disorders, past eye surgery or other eye disorders.
A cataract can develop in one eye or both eyes. The condition usually develops gradually. Symptoms you may notice include:
- Clouded vision
- Difficulty with night vision
- Frequent changes to your prescription for eyeglasses
- Colors that look faded
The symptoms of cataracts sometimes are caused by other eye conditions, so visit your ophthalmologist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens. Make an appointment for a checkup if you experience any of these symptoms.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
Consider cataract surgery if you have a cataract that’s making daily activities more difficult. Your eye doctor may also recommend cataract surgery if you have other eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.
Before your surgery date, your ophthalmologist determines the right type of replacement lens to insert during surgery. You may need to use antibiotic drops for a few days before the surgery. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that usually takes an hour or less. You won’t be able to drive after surgery, so ask someone to accompany you.
What to Expect from Cataract Surgery
If you have cataracts in both eyes, you only have surgery for one at a time. The procedures are usually scheduled about four weeks apart. On the day of surgery, your eye is numbed with eyedrops and local anesthetics. You’re given a sedative to help you relax, so you may remain awake, but feel groggy.
Your surgeon creates tiny incisions near the edge of the cornea. The goal here is to break up the lens that has a cataract so it can be removed and replaced with a new lens. You’re ready to go home after a short stay in the recovery room. You may need to use eyedrops and a shield over your eye at first, but your vision improves in a few days.
Expert Eye Care in Queens
When you’re under the care of an expert eye surgeon, cataract surgery almost always successfully restores your vision. You may need an updated prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The best ophthalmologists work at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Contact this multi-specialty practice. You get more than an eye doctor; you get access to medical professionals in other fields that affect your eye health — such as primary care, cardiology and endocrinology.
We can help you find a doctor. Call (718) 275-8900
Licensed by the state of New York, Medex is an Article 28 diagnostic and treatment center. Our physicians provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages in the Forest Hills, Queens area, for over 15 years. Start receiving expert care now by calling or scheduling an appointment online with one of the skilled specialists.