The cataract specialists at our Colorado Springs, CO office are proud to offer cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants to patients throughout Colorado. Our patient-focused standard of care ensures that our staff will work with you every step of the way, addressing your individual needs and leaving you with clear and crisp vision.
Cataracts often begin to develop before we realize it, causing your vision to lose clarity more rapidly as your eyes age. Early detection of cataracts is your best defense against losing quality vision and identifying any possible vision problems you may have.
Scheduling an eye exam with our staff, or completing a cataract self-test, are the best ways to understand your unique eye care needs. Review common questions from patients regarding cataracts and cataract surgery below!
Cataracts are clouded areas within the eye’s lens, which focuses on what you are looking at, much like the lens of a camera. Most commonly caused by the natural aging of the eye, cataracts can continue to worsen as we get older. In most cases, cataracts begin to develop in patients between 40 and 50 years of age but are not noticeable until the age of 60 or above.
As the leading cause of blindness across the globe, cataracts account for roughly 42% of all blindness in the world. Closer to home, almost half of Americans over the age of 65 have cataracts developing in some form. While the true cause of cataracts beyond aging eyes is unknown, the eye doctors and ophthalmologists at Cutarelli Vision are working to further understand what causes this disease.
Cataracts rarely cause symptoms outside of blurring your vision over time. Once the cataract develops, some common warning signs include:
The eye doctors at Cutarelli Vision will conduct an eye exam, cataract screening, and review your medical history for any information that will diagnose the issue quickly. The next step is to complete a visual acuity screening to understand how affected your vision is by the cataract.
Although many people with cataracts can find relief from blurry vision with the use of eyeglasses, cataracts cannot be fully treated without a surgical procedure. Cataract surgery involves an eye doctor conducting a series of visual tests to determine how your vision is being affected. Once these tests have been completed, our staff will make a recommendation specifically based on your eyes and visual needs.
The doctors at Cutarelli Vision will work with you to identify the ideal intraocular lens options based on your vision, addressing any questions or concerns throughout the process. Although many people believe that poor eyesight is inevitable when you age, cataract surgery is an easy and relatively painless process. Schedule an appointment with the doctors at Cutarelli Vision to learn more about the procedure, and the intraocular lens (IOL) options available.
Traditional cataract surgery is a relatively quick procedure, typically taking 10 – 15 minutes to perform. Immediately following the procedure, the surgeon will cover your eye with a clear protective shield to prevent anything from touching your eye. Resting for 30 minutes to one hour after surgery will ensure you are feeling completely recovered.
Once you have recovered, someone will need to drive you home, and our staff will provide a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright lights. If you are still tired after returning home, you may want to rest longer depending on the advice you will receive from the cataract surgeon.
Although your vision may be blurry or distorted following the cataract surgery procedure, do not be alarmed. Many patients experience some form of vision distortion after surgery as your body adapts to the new lens in your eye. Additionally, if you were given a sedative before surgery, you may experience some short-term bruising similar to a black eye.
Many patients report having clear vision hours after surgery, but this will vary from patient to patient. In most cases, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled for the day after surgery, to make sure there are no complications. During this appointment, you should notify your doctor of any discomfort or vision distortion.
Complete recovery from cataract surgery should take place within a month of the procedure when your eyes are completely healed. Learn more about cataracts by scheduling an appointment with the doctors at Cutarelli Vision today!
