The age at which patients undergo cataract surgery is getting younger than it used to be. In the past, cataract surgery was primarily performed on people in their 70s and 80s, but Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, “The Surgeon’s Surgeon,” has seen a steady rise in cataract patients aged 69 and younger. Read on to better understand why so many patients have decided to have cataract surgery earlier in life. Read more
Category: Cataract
A Guide to Cataracts & Treatment Options
For those who have a family history of Cataracts and know what the progression of this is like, you understand that Cataracts can cause problems within everyday activities and over time your vision can become severely compromised.
A Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens which causes distortions in the patient’s vision over time. Cataracts are a progressive condition that cause severe complications in daily vision. For those who have conditions such as diabetes and even heart disease, the condition can progress faster causing a need for earlier surgery.
F.A.Q. on Cataracts
- What are the main types of Cataract?
Age related – Cataracts are most often caused by aging. This is the most common form of Cataract.
Traumatic Cataract – Due to eye injuries
Secondary Cataracts – Caused by those with Diabetes, Glaucoma, and even Steroid uses
- What are the Risk Factors of Cataracts?
There are several risk factors for Cataracts.
• Smoking & Alcohol usage
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight
• Conditions such as Diabetes, and other eye conditions
If you think that you have any risk factors asking your eye care professional will give you a heads up on detecting it early.
- What are Treatments for Cataracts?
There are several treatment options for those with Cataracts. While surgery is the primary treatment for Cataracts, there are several treatments that can help as the condition progresses. You should know, cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed every day in the world and is relatively safe an easy 20 minute procedure.
• Change of Prescriptions
• Anti-glare Sunglasses
• Magnifying lenses
• Artificial lenses
• Surgery – Phoacoemulsification (Phaco AKA Small incision)
Watch an informative overview of Cataract procedures below:
What Eye Conditions Could I Possibly be at Risk to Develop?
With so many eye conditions out there, examining your family history should be your first step to find out which you might be at risk for. You can be at higher risk for several of these conditions through injury, environmental exposure, and a positive family history. For those patients concerned, the highest development of many eye conditions is related to the genetic component, so reviewing family history is very important.
Below are a few common conditions to be aware of:
Cataracts
Cataracts are a condition that clouds the natural lens of the eye and progresses over time. For those who have already experienced it, they know that it typically progresses over years and eventually will require surgery. Generally the main treatment option is Cataract extraction surgery, which requires the natural lens to be removed and replaced with an artificial lens. In many cases, a prescription lens can be used to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of the eye. This often develops as a child or can be incurred by injury to the eyes. Astigmatism now has many great treatment options. Some well-known procedures to help improve astigmatism are LASIK, PRK, and ICL.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related Macular Degeneration (also known as AMD) often occurs when the macula is damaged. How fast it progresses is dependent on the individual’s history and the cause of the AMD. A few symptoms of AMD you should watch for are:
• Blurred vision in the center of your vision field
• Blank spots in your vision
• Distortion of vision
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is another progressive condition that causes vision loss over time. Keratoconus is a thinning of the cornea which causes difficulties with vision by creating distortion. It can cause you to change your daily habits, including being able to see to drive at night, and can require a cornea transplant if not treated in a timely manner.
The best way to avoid these conditions, or to be proactive in their treatment, is to have regular exams for screening.
For some other eyes tips on eye conditions to watch for, watch below:
How Can Age Affect Your Vision?
Cataracts ~
Most of us worry about aging and how it effects our bodies. Cataracts is a progressive condition that appears slowly often leaving no symptoms. Generally symptoms don’t occur until the cataracts has progressed enough to disturb your vision. Cataracts is a natural slow clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. Most commonly the treatment for this condition is Cataracts surgery a procedure that is routinely performed and can have a relatively easy recovery.
Generally Cataracts is found during a routine exam, however some people can get symptoms early, below are a few:
- · Colors are fading or yellowing
- · Inability to read without bright light
- · Very poor vision at night
- · Halo vision – visibility of halo around lights, lamp and bright sunlight
- · At night the headlights seem to be too bright
- · Blurry vision
- · Cloudy vision
- · Double vision .
While these symptoms are often those symptoms of other eye conditions if you have any reporting them to your eye care professionals with help you get the proper diagnosis. Though it could be something common or less serious any eye changes can indicate problems in your physical health or vision.
Cataracts are identified by a series of tests:
There are several tests that maybe performed to diagnosis Cataracts your eye care professional can help determine a Cataracts diagnosis on most routine eye exams. Cataracts development differs between people.
A few tests are:
- Pupil dilation to assess the lens
- Visual Acuity testing
- Measuring eye prescription
- Slit-lamp microscope
Age-related cataract, develop over a long period, usually noted between the ages of 65-85. However it can happen to those early in life, including those who have Diabetes. Diabetes can increase the rate in which the Cataracts develop. An eye exam every year is very important to keep top quality of vision.
Dealing with Progressing Cataract Symptoms
For many of us Cataracts can be a discouraging diagnosis. Although it is a inherited condition and you may know someone who has suffered from it, the disease affects us all differently. Descriptions of the progression by eye doctors can be vague to say the least. Actually being faced with it can be more bothersome than described.
As Cataracts progresses it causes more visual disturbances such as:
- Difficulty reading computer screen
- Declined brightness of colors
- Difficulty seeing in low light
- Difficulty driving at night
- Frequent prescription updates.
Increased blurred vision can also be an annoying factor in the progression. This can hinder your day to day activities causing you to feel more unlike yourself.
Below are some two tips to help you deal with the increasing symptoms:
Get plenty of rest:
Sleep helps reduce the strain on your eyes, as well as improving your overall vision. For those of us who struggle with busy work schedules, adding in a sufficient amount of time to sleep will improve not only your overall vision but your overall health and its function.
Increase the magnification on what you read:
If you are struggling to view your computer screen or books increasing the size on the computer or using a magnifying lens will help you strain less, reducing your symptoms for the time being. The more your strain your vision the more you can damage your sight. Ensuring your vision lasts as long as possible by reducing the amount of strain on your eyes daily.
When to seek treatment:
If you are noticing significant impact on your daily activities, such as driving, reading or doing tasks around the house or office, it is time to discuss with you eye care doctor the option of cataract removal. Cataract removal is a relatively quick 10 minute out-patient procedure. Cataract removal is one of the most common procedures performed everyday in the United States. The benefit is improved vision and often the ability to reduce your need for glasses.
Be sure to report any new symptoms to your eye care professionals, and let them know what your day to day experiences are like. This will help them customize your treatment plan and give them a chance to offer you suggestion that maybe beneficial to you and your long term plan.
For a quick overview video about cataract removal visit: http://youtu.be/shv89sNUXBE
Cataracts & Macular Degeneration
There are several people suffering from both Cataracts and Macular Degeneration today. Both conditions are degenerative to the eye and can cause severe visual loss. Their only real difference is what visual areas are affected by each condition.
Cataracts:
In Cataracts the vision is affected slowly over time as the internal lens becomes cloudy. In some cases of Cataracts the vision can decline quickly over six months to a year.
Symptoms:
Blurred Vision
Increased trouble with night vision
Increased sensitivity to light
Halos or Spots
Double Vision
Difficulty reading paperwork even with reading glasses
Decline in brightness of colors
Macular Degeneration:
Macular Degeneration is also a progressive condition generally affecting those who are 50 plus. The most common form is Age-related Macular Degeneration [or AMD]. This condition affects the area of the retina that controls the central vision field or the macula. The Macula covers 2.1 % of the retina. It controls your ability to recognize faces, separate dark from light colors, etc.
Symptoms
Visual acuity drastically decreasing
Blurred vision
Usual shadows or missing areas within vision
Exam findings:
Drusen
Pigmentary Atecutions
Exudative changes, hemorrhages in eye
Atrophy Incipient and geographic
Having one of the above conditions can be managed with proper care. However, not having regular eye exams can pose problems later as they work to interrupt vision. This can cause a severe decline of vision and can lead to severe vision loss.
Our eyes need help as we age and making sure that you take care of them and get a yearly eye exam will ensure your vision stays with you.
Free Report available about Advanced Cataract Surgery: http://www.boxerwachler.com/freereport_nlr.htm
For more information on eye health visit: www.nioeyes.com
Discovering the Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts is a condition many of us know all to well, you probably have a parent or grandparent that experienced this condition in their 60’s, 70’s or 80’s. If we all live long enough we will eventually develop cataracts, it is almost a badge of a life lived long.
However understanding the impact it has on your vision and that there is help is something that is misunderstood. Cataracts can affect people for many different reasons. Knowing the symptoms of the condition will assist with early detection and in many cases save your vision.
Symptoms of Cataracts:
- Poor night vision
- Increasing light to read
- Fading colors or yellows
- Glare
- Increased light sensitivity
- Painless blurred vision
Cataracts affects each person differently and though in age-related cases cataracts generally progresses slowly; those with diabetes might notice them develop very rapidly. Though the myth is that cataracts is a slow progressive condition no one really can determine how fast it will progress from one person to the next. The best advice is to get checked regularly and if you are a diabetic being examined yearly is very important.
Risk Factors for Cataracts:
Though most of us think Cataracts is an age related condition there are many other ways you can be affected by cataracts. There are many risk factors for Cataracts including Diabetes, eye trauma, and family history. Making sure you are getting your annual check-ups will help you with early detection of the condition.
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in eye care treatments, and other procedures.
For more information on Cataracts visit
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataract-surgery.htm
Free Report available here: http://www.boxerwachler.com/freereport_nlr.htm
Risk Factors of Cataracts
It is said that Diabetes is the second leading reason for developing cataracts in the United States. So what’s the number one reason? Age. It is a fact that by age 75 about 70% of Americans will have cataracts that will affect their daily life. That is quite a big number. And what can we do about it. Reduce the risk factors as much as possible and get regular check ups to protect your vision.
Below are some risk factors for Cataracts:
Risk Factors:
Age
Diabetes
Smoking
Obesity
Medications [Such as Corticosteroids or Prolonged use of steriods]
Chemotherapy
Although Cataracts is typically a slowly progressive disease and can generally be caught soon. In some people for instance those with Diabetes it can progress rapidly. It is always best to get your eyes examined whenever you see changes in vision. It could mean your vision if its not taken care of properly.
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in Cataracts Surgery and other vision correction procedures, such as LASIK or Visian ICL.
Free Report available here: http://www.boxerwachler.com/freereport_nlr.htm
Learn more about cataracts here: http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataract-surgery.htm
