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Below you will find some of our most frequently asked questions for your convenience. If you have any other questions that we may assist you with, please feel free to call or e-mail us. We are happy to provide you with more information.
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What is a cataract ?
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Just behind the iris is the focusing system of the eye. It consists of a flexible lens with muscle tissue attached to the lens around it's periphery. When viewing an object up close, this muscle contracts to change the shape of the lens. This focuses the eye automatically and in a normal eye it functions whenever we view an object closer than 20 feet. In addition to the lens loosing it's elasticity over time, it can also loose it's clarity. A lens that has lost it's clarity and turned opaque is called a cataract. As a cataract develops, it interferes with or prevents light from reaching the back of the eye. Cataracts are so comman that it is safe to say that most of us will have them if we live long enough. Fortunately, they are easily taken care of today. This typically consists of a short five minute surgical proceedure in which the old lens is removed and an artificial one put in it's place. If there are no other age related conditions present, such as macular degeneration, vision is typically restored to normal. Exposure to UV radiation (sunlight) is thought to be a contributing factor in cataract formation. Preventive measures include the wearing of good quality UV blocking sunglasses when outdoors, even on cloudy days. UV blocker coatings can also be added to your regular eyewear and some contact lenses have UV blocking properties. Proper nutrition is also thought to play a roll in avoiding cataracts and other age related eye pathologies.
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