Cataracts are one of the most common eye-related problems in the world today. It occurs when the eye lens becomes cloudy, leading to misty and hazy vision. Occurring naturally due to age, anyone that develops cataracts will eventually see a significant loss of clear vision, which can only be addressed through surgery.

Cataract surgery happens to be a very straight-forward procedure. Completed on hundreds of thousands of patients annually, cataract surgery helps to restore vision, preventing blindness from eventually developing.

Here’s everything you need to know about cataract surgery:

When is cataract surgery necessary?

A loss in vision is common in aging people, with many suffering from cloudy vision at some stage of their later years. Cataracts can take years to fully develop however, allowing people to live with it for quite some time before vision is impaired.

However, cataracts eventually develop into a much more significant problem over time. The only way to rectify the issue is by surgical procedure, where the cataracts are removed from the eye.

Should your vision not be impaired by cataracts, then you can hold off on surgery. It’s only truly necessary once it starts to have a negative impact on your day-to-day life. For instance, if you can no longer read, drive, or struggle to see in most conditions, then surgery is advised.

What does cataract surgery involve?

Cataract surgery is quite a simple routine. You are provided with some local anaesthetic and some eye drops, after which the eye surgeon makes a minor incision on your eye. If you are feeling anxious about the procedure you may be given a minor sedative to stay relaxed.

The eye lens is then removed and replaced with an artificial implant lens known as an intraocular lens, after which the surgery is complete!

What you can expect from cataract surgery

There are a few things to expect from cataract surgery, none of which should give you any concern.

The procedure is very simple and shouldn’t take longer than an hour, so expect a total surgery time of around 20-40 minutes in most cases. Only one eye is treated per surgery, so you will likely require two procedures should you have it in both eyes, which will take place a few weeks apart.

So, you can also expect to go home that day. Remember, you are only under local anaesthetic, which means you will be awake for the entire procedure. Don’t worry; you won’t be able to feel a thing! Most patients are home just a few hours after surgery, so it’s not too taxing of a day.

Also, your vision may be quite blurry for a few days after the surgery, although some people see their vision improve that same day. Don’t have high expectations of this however, as it’s best to assume you will need a few days to fully recover.

Are there any risks with cataract surgery?

Serious risks from cataract surgery are very low. The procedure is one of the safest and most straight-forward administered to patients, although there are some minor risks worth knowing. For instance, inflammation in the eye may occur, while more serious problems such as a detached retina are possible.

However, chances of complications remain low. Serious complications are reported in around 1 percent of cataract surgeries, so you should be completely free of risk!

At Rohr eye and laser center we offer cataract surgery with Tecnis IOLs or Toric IOLs. Don’t let cataracts affect your vision. We recommend you get a eye exam each year to insure your eyes are healthy. If you are worried about your vision and need a check up or would like to schedule a surgery, give us a call at 877-579-0202. You can also visit our website at www.michiganlasik.com. Our office is located in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Most people think nothing of scheduling regular visits with the medical doctor or their dentist in order to make sure that they are physically fit and healthy and that their teeth stay white, bright, and cavity free.   When it comes to eye care however they tend only to seek the services of an optometrist when they have concerns regarding their vision.  The truth though is that everyone should have a yearly eye exam.

Eye Exams Are Important

A comprehensive eye exam is more than simply checking your vision to see if you need glasses or not.  During a comprehensive eye exam your optometrist will check your eye pressure, your eye muscle coordination and both the internal and external health of your eye.  A comprehensive eye exam is especially important if there is a family history of eye problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health issues that could be affecting your vision.  Yearly exams are especially important for those suffering from diabetes as catching diabetes-related eye problems in their earliest stages may help to save your vision.

Your optometrist can also spot problems caused by your eyes being exposed to too much ultraviolet light from the sun, from pollution, or dust particles in your work environment.  They are trained to give you tips on eye care and things you can do to help protect your vision.

In some cases, a yearly exam may not be enough.  If there are specific eye problems that can cause a rapid deterioration of your vision your optometrist may want you to have your vision checked every four to six months to keep a check and make sure that your vision is remaining stable.

When you consider how important your vision is to you and all the things you would miss if you lost your sight then you will realize how important proper eye care and those yearly eye checkups are to you and every member of your family.

Exams For Your Children

When it comes to children proper eye care is also important and you should have your infant have an eye exam at about six months of age, again at three, and then starting when they are school age they too should have a yearly exam unless there is some reason why checkups should occur more often.

Children who suffer from undiagnosed vision problems often not only have more severe vision problems later in life but also tend to do poorly in school.  By getting yearly eye exams for your child from the time they are young you will be protecting their eyesight both now and in the future.

Make Sure to Do Exams Annually

If you have not had an eye exam lately you should call your optometrist now and set up an eye appointment.  Follow through with eye exams each and every year.   Your eyesight is important to you and the only way to protect your eyesight is with proper eye care.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

As we get older our eyes go through a process of aging.  You may first start to notice your near vision getting a bit worse and that you need to hold things a little closer.  Then you may need to start wearing reading glasses; this is called presbyopia.  This is where the lens within the eye cannot flex as well as when we are young and unable to bend into focus and the lens starts to get cloudy.

How Cataracts Can Affect You

As our eyes age further the lens becomes stiff, rigid, and very cloudy, this is called cataracts.   If not detected early, cataracts can get so bad you may not be able to see through them and you lose the ability to see clearly, navigate, distinguish between colors and lose contrast.

Ideally, before it gets that bad we would recommend performing cataract surgery to restore your vision.  The main aim of cataract surgery is to remove the old lens and replace it with a new artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve your vision.  A lot of people know about cataracts but aren’t clear on what the surgery actually involves.

Cataract Surgery

The initial stage of cataract surgery is for the eye surgeon to clean and numb the eye and to also dilate the pupil; this is to help the eye surgeon see the cataract clearly.  The eye is held open throughout the procedure with a speculum.

Most people are awake during surgery and anesthetic is usually given via eye drops that take seconds to work.  You shouldn’t be in any discomfort but may feel pressure and will see a bright light.  The surgeon will then make a minute incision, which can be less than 2.2 mm.

A substance called viscoelastic is introduced to stabilize the eye and maintain pressure.  The lens capsule is where your natural lens sits, the surgeon will open up a small portion of this to be able to remove the old lens and insert a new lens.  Depending on how bad the cataract is, the surgeon may first need to segment the cataract prior to removal.

The removal of the lens is called phacoemulsification (phaco), this is where the eye surgeon will use a machine with an ultrasonic hand piece.  The tip of the hand piece vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency which makes the lens substance emulsify which is then irrigated and aspirated out.  If needed, the surgeon may then polish the capsule prior to inserting the new intraocular lens.  The new lens is usually folded within an injector.

The injector places the lens within the capsule and as it unfolds the surgeon guides it into place.  The viscoelastic is them removed via aspiration.  Once this is done the eye surgeon will check over the eye to ensure everything is perfect and that the incision is watertight and then apply an antibiotic and steroid eye drop.  The use of stitches is not normally needed as the incision is so small and self-sealing.  The surgeon will then place an eye shield/patch over the eye to protect it and the surgery is complete.

After The Surgery

If both eyes need surgery they will normally be treated on separate days to prevent the risk of infecting both eyes and to also see how the first eye heals.  The surgery takes an average of twenty minutes per eye and you can expect to leave within an hour or so after the surgery.  Your vision should improve gradually over the next twenty four to forty eight hours.  Full visual recovery and achieving final outcomes might take up to four weeks.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

When Shakespeare’s King Lear calls on “cataracts” to spout during his “blow winds, and crack your cheeks!” speech, he’s not asking for cloudy vision.  In Shakespeare’s day, a “cataract” also means a huge waterfall.  This is fitting because the clouds of white foam arising from a waterfall are metaphorically like the cloudy vision caused by a cataract.  Roughly half of everyone who lives to age 80 will eventually get cataracts in one or both eyes.

What exactly is a cataract?  To answer that question, let’s begin by looking at the eye in more detail.  A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens.  The lens of the eye is right behind the pupil.  Light enters the eye through the pupil.  As the picture shows, the lens focuses light onto the retina, which is a layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye.

The lens must be clear to focus light onto the retina.  If the lens has become cloudy with a cataract the image that is seen will be blurry.  People say that having a cataract is like looking through a dirt car windshield.

How Do Cataracts Form

The eye’s lens is composed of two substances: the first is water and the second is protein.  As we age some of the protein that constitutes the eye’s lens, along with water, can clump together, causing the clouding of the lens.  Although most cataracts are simply a product of aging there are other causes of cataracts, too.

Diabetics can develop cataracts and so can steroid users.  Cataracts can develop after an eye injury sometimes years later.  They can often develop after exposure to radiation.  Babies can sometimes be born with cataracts as well.  Other factors that could cause cataracts include smoking and drinking.  Here are the symptoms of cataracts, in case you think you are developing one.

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Faded colors
• Headlight, lamps, or sunlight glare
• Halos surrounding lights
• Double visions
• Multiple images in one eye

Frequent changes in your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses could also be a sign of cataracts.  If you notice any of these symptoms, or if you are age 60 or older, ask your eye doctor to check your eyes for cataracts, as well as for age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or any other vision issues during your next eye exam.

What To Do When You Have Cataracts

If you do have a cataract and it is interfering with your normal everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV, your cloudy lens can be removed in surgery and replaced with a clear artificial lens.  If you need cataract surgery in both eyes, usually the doctor will do each eye a month or two apart.

However, surgery should be avoided unless it’s absolutely necessary for your vision or if a cataract interferes with getting another eye issue treated, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.  Nevertheless cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the United States and about 90% of people who have cataracts removed have improved vision.

Prevention

Now if you don’t have cataracts and you want to forestall getting them, there are some precautions you can take, according to research done by staffers of the Mayo Clinic.  Get regular eye exams, at least once every two years or more frequently if you notice changes in your vision quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Wear sunglasses and clear glasses with 100% Ultraviolet (UV) protection.  Maintain a healthy weight and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Quit smoking, decrease or eliminate drinking alcohol, decrease or eliminate eating meat, increase eating fruits and vegetables and you might live long enough to have your first cataract as a 95^th birthday present – among other goodies.

Many people who need cataract surgery will get a temporary pair of eyeglasses to use that corrects the vision of both eyes, the eye that has the cataract and the eye that does not.  Then when they have had the cataract surgery in both eyes they get a new pair of glasses.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

A Cataract is a medical condition that slowly clouds the eyes lens, which causes blurred vision. This can ether severely reduce your vision or just cause some blurriness. An example would be looking through a fogged up windshield. This can make it hard to do daily activities like driving, playing sports and reading. Most of the time cataracts will develop slowly and you won’t notice it right away. As time goes on you might notice your vision getting weaker/blurry. You might even get some cheater glasses (readers) and this will help for a little bit. But, again time will not be on your side with cataracts.

Once your vision affects daily life, it might be time to go see an eye doctor. The good news is cataracts can be treated by a medical professional! The bad news is it won’t go away on its own and you will need surgery. This is generally a safe and effective procedure.

Cataract surgery consists of removing the clouded cataract and replacing it with a clear lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL stays permanently in your eye. About 95% of all patients get an IOL, the other 5% will need to wear glasses or contacts. Overall this is a short and painless procedure that usually takes around an hour. You do not need to stay at the hospital when this is done, but you would want someone to drive you home. If both eyes have a cataract, it is recommended to wait at least one month between surgeries.

As we get older this increases our risk for cataracts, here are some other risk including:

• Diabetes
• Excessive sunlight
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

If you are preparing for your LASIK eye surgery, there are a few things to keep in mind to have the best experience possible. Although nothing can replace the consultation of your eye surgeon, listed below are some items that can help you before and after your operation. The Lasik procedure is extremely precise, and it removes a small amount of corneal tissue to help provide you with the best vision possible.

Knowing both of the surgery’s advantages and disadvantages and getting a comprehensive evaluation, it is also necessary to know some details of the surgery itself. Getting ready for any surgery is a tedious process and preparing for LASIK is no different. One must ensure that everything is ready and that you look good. While preparing for laser eye surgery isn’t as difficult as with some other surgeries, there are still a few things you need to take care of before you go in for eye surgery.

However, if you are toying with the idea of getting this surgery done, then here are a couple of things you need to know.

1. Stop using contacts

Abstain from wearing your contacts: For at least three days before the LASIK surgery, you should not wear your contacts. Depending on the types of lenses you wear, however, the period could be longer. It is best to ask your doctor what he feels is an ample amount of time.

2. Do not eat too much

Usually, before bodily operations, you are required to refrain from eating for about one day (a full 24 hours). However, before this procedure, it is recommended to have a light meal before coming into the office, as well as any prescribed medications that you may be taking. Again, ask your eye doctor what he/she recommends.

3. No more makeup

Yes, you will need to stop using perfume or makeup or even cream bases the day before LASIK surgery. With these products, debris can cause inflammation, which can lead to haze or scarring. It is best not to wear any mascara, foundation, or any other make-up that may descend into the eyes or obstruct the doctor’s movements.

4. Avoid caffeine.

Another thing you should take note before going for your Lasik is to stop drinking/taking soda or caffeine instead try and drink water. Taking caffeine will make your eyes feel dry, and this will make it hard for you to fully relax after receiving your LASIK surgery. Caffeine also makes some people jittery; we want you to be fully relaxed during the eye surgery.

5. Come with a responsible driver.

Overall, you will feel normal after your LASIK procedure is complete. However, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Before LASIK, ask a responsible friend or family member to be your post-op chauffeur and help you to bed after getting home.

These are the five steps that will surely assist you with preparing for your corrective eye surgery. Preparation is necessary to have a successful operation. Always remember that those who are well prepared will have a better possibility of success.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.