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Cataract FAQ

Questions about Cataract Eye Surgery

The following information answers questions that we frequently hear from our patients about cataract eye surgery. For more information, please contact our cataract eye surgeon.

1. How do I know if I have cataracts?
2. Are there different kinds of cataracts?
3. What causes cataracts?
4. Do only older people get cataracts?
5. Is cataract surgery dangerous to your eyes?
6. Is cataract surgery done with a laser?
7. How much time must go by before the second eye is treated?
8. I wear contact lenses. Can I wear them to your office for cataract surgery?

How do I know if I have cataracts?

At first, it's hard to tell. You'll notice some deterioration of your vision, such as more sensitivity to lights at night, colors look less vivid and bright, double vision, or some blurriness. Initially, a new glasses or contact lens prescription might help, but at some point, cataract surgery may become necessary. If cataracts develop in both eyes, each eye can be treated separately, so you retain your vision and functionality in between surgery dates.

Are there different kinds of cataracts?

Yes, there are three main kinds:

• Nuclear cataracts - the most common kind, that comes with advancing years, and begins in the center of the lens;
• Cortical cataracts - develops in diabetics and begin at the edge of the lens - extending inwards - causing blindness when they reach the center;
• Subcapsular cataracts - also found in people with diabetes, in young people, and/or those who take steroids over a long period of time. These cataracts develop rapidly starting in the back of the lens and produce symptoms such as glare, difficulty with night driving, and reading.

What causes cataracts?

The cause isn't clear, however, studies have been done that suggest some risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Prolonged use of steroids
• Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight)
• Exposure to cosmic radiation
• Over-consumption of alcohol
• Prolonged exposure to air pollution
• Exposure to lead

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Do only older people get cataracts?

No. Advancing age is certainly a predisposing factor, and by the age of 75 or so, nearly everyone is said to have at least the beginning of a cataract. However, some babies are born with congenital cataracts, some apparently inherited, and others, are the result of the mother having an infectious disease while pregnant, such as chickenpox or German measles. Young healthy patients can also develop cataracts as stated above.

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Is cataract surgery dangerous to your eyes?

All surgery carries some risk, and cataract surgery is no exception. However, cataract eye surgery is the most commonly performed procedure in the U.S., and if you choose an experienced cataract eye surgeon, risk is minimal.

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Is cataract surgery done with a laser?

Most commonly the lens is removed with ultrasound rather than a laser to break up the lens with the cataract before removing it. Also, after some surgeries, the pocket, or membrane that encloses the eye's lens becomes cloudy after the lens is removed, and in these cases, a laser can be used to make a clear opening in that membrane, so that vision isn't impeded.

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How much time must go by before the second eye is treated?

The second surgery can be performed one day after the first surgery, but we prefer to wait at least a week to ensure the first operative eye is healing well.

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I wear contact lenses. Can I wear them to your office for cataract surgery?

No. We will be taking a number of measurements of your eyes. These measurements enable us to measure the thickness and curvature of your eye. It is important that candidates do not wear the following prior to the diagnostic evaluation and surgery:

• soft contact lenses for 5 days;
• toric lenses for 2 weeks; or
• hard contact lenses for 8 weeks.

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