Understanding Cataracts: What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural focusing lens, which is located behind the iris of the eye. Cataracts are usually associated with the normal aging process and are the leading cause of vision loss among adults over 55. Eye injuries and certain medications and diseases can also cause cataracts.
When the lens of the eye is clear, it permits light to pass clearly to the retina at the back of the eye, producing clean, crisp images . As a cataract develops, however, two things happen. The cataract becomes denser and progressively clouds the lens, resulting in less light reaching the retina. Additionally, the light that does reach the retina is scattered and blurred, causing a gradual impairment of vision. Consequently, people with cataracts see images less crisply and vividly, and colors may be subdued. The condition can be compared to a window that is fogged over with steam. (SEE IMAGE).
Common Symptoms of Cataract Patients:
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty reading in low light
- Double vision in one eye
- Glare or sensitivity to light
- Declining night vision
- Fading of colors
The general treatment for cataracts is cataract surgery, one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available today, particularly when performed by skilled surgeons such as Dr. Koster. For more information on cataract surgery, click here.
To see a simulation of the difference in vision after cataract surgery when mono-focals implants are used versus presbyopia-correcting multi-focal implants, please click here:
For more information please do not hesitate to contact our surgical coordinator Sherri Delatorre by phone at (718) 805-0700 ext 215 or (212) 243-2300 or via email sdelatorre@nylasergroup.com.
