Monthly Archives - May 2012

Cataracts are almost an expected part of aging and indeed, this eye disease affects millions of people over the age of 60 every year. Surgery to have cataracts removed is the only option for fixing this ailment, although not everyone chooses to do so. Still, when people understand the facts about cataracts and what causes them, it may make cataract surgery in San Diego less daunting.

First, it is important to understand some basic facts about the make up of the eye. Water and protein are the two basic things that the eye is comprised of. Water keeps the eye moisturized, while the protein helps keep clarity on the lens so we see more clearly. As we age, these proteins change and lead to cloudiness on the lens. This is a slow and gradual process that is barely noticed—if at all—while it is happening, but eventually this protein change and breakdown becomes what are known as cataracts and clear vision seems to be a thing of the past. Now, in some rare cases babies might be born with broken down eye proteins, but in most cases it is just a result of the body’s natural aging process.

Like many ailments, outside factors can bring them on as well. While we cannot slow down aging and naturally happens to our eyes, we are able to speed up the occurrence of cataracts with lifestyle choices. Statistics have shown those who smoke cigarettes or expose themselves to excessive UV rays over a long period of time are more apt to develop cataracts and may even develop them at an earlier age. Of course, some outside causes cannot be helped, and these included suffering from diabetes and having to take steroidal medication for some health conditions.

When cataracts do develop, they are characterized by poor vision. It is almost like seeing through a very dirty windshield that no amount of cleaning will help. Some people are able to accept this and live with it, while others choose to seek out help. Once cataracts are diagnosed, San Diego cataract surgery is usually recommended, although not completely necessary as cataracts do not do damage to the overall health of the eye. Some people know they will need to have San Diego cataract eye surgery somewhere down the line, but may choose to wait until the cataracts become a nuisance or too much to bear. More extreme cases can not only cause vision impairment, but also cause pain. If you think you are suffering from cataracts, take the first step to getting help and call us today.

Almost everyone has heard of cataracts. If we grew up around our grandparents, we may have seen them wearing large, dark glasses and eventually learned this was because they had just undergone eye surgery to have these things called cataracts removed. What many people do not know is that there are different kinds of cataracts that can form on our eyes as we age.

The most common cataract type that seems to be a direct result of aging is called nuclear cataracts. The name is not as ominous as it sounds and simply means the central part of the eye lens is infected with cataracts. When the eye’s lens cortex is more affected by this ailment, it is called cortical cataracts. And, when the opacity that comes with cataracts is found by the lens capsule, it is called subcapsular cataracts. Subcapsular cataracts do not develop as gradually as nuclear and cortical cataracts and can actually appear quite rapidly. This is when cataract surgery in San Diego is most necessary.

All of the above types of cataracts are a result of natural eye aging and can be treated with San Diego cataract surgery. However, there is another type of cataracts that people are born with. This type is called congenital or infantile cataracts and requires immediate attention so that they eye and vision can develop naturally and healthily.

The types of cataracts that come on more gradually do not always need treatment right away. They may not even be noticeable at first. Even when the cataracts are diagnosed, some people decide they can live with the condition. However, for many the cataracts grow worse, as does their quality of life. They may not be able to drive anymore, their poor and cloudy vision can interfere with their work as well as their own personal enjoyment, like movies, reading and television. At this point, San Diego cataract eye surgery is the best way to go. Your eye surgeon will use ultrasound technology to break up the infected lens and then suction the small pieces out. And artificial lens free of cataracts will be put in its place and within weeks, your vision will become much clearer. If you had worn glasses in the past, you will eventually need to be fitted for a new prescription, but the cloudy sights before you will be gone. The decision to have cataract surgery is not always an easy one, but it is much more palatable when you understand both the disease and the procedure.