Discover the Truth About Cataract Laser Surgery

Cataracts affects the lens of the eye causing clouding of the vision. Once cataracts have set in, light is scattered or is fully or partially blocked out. This clouding impairs the vision of the person with cataracts.

Though cataracts is an abnormality in vision, it is a normal occurrence that often comes with aging. More than 85% of people older than 70 years old are diagnosed with cataracts. Most of the time, cataracts affects both eyes, but one eye can be more harshly affected than the other.

Cataract symptoms can vary, some may be minimal so that people who are affected by the condition may not even be aware of it. However, people with severe cataracts most likely will not be able to see well enough to function normally in their daily lives.

How do you know if you have cataracts?

One of the telltale signs that you are starting to be affected by cataracts is having foggy, fuzzy, cloudy or filmy vision. Colors may appear different than normal. Night driving becomes difficult because headlights seem glaring, as do lamps and sunshine. Double vision also becomes a problem.

How can cataracts be treated?

Commonly people just try to change glasses with magnifying lenses and stronger bifocals. But this is usually ineffective and just puts off the inevitable cataract surgery procedure. Cataract Surgery treatment will be performed by removing the eye lens and replacing it with artificial lenses known as an implant.

Cataracts can also be removed through surgery and your physician will explain the different options of surgery and how you can prepare yourself.

Laser surgery is one way of removing cataracts. Laser surgery for cataract is still being experimentally tested. It utilizes light instead of ultrasound in dissolving the cataract. LASEK and LASIK processes fall in the laser surgery category.

In LASEK or laser epithelial keratomileusis, the cornea’s surface layer will be treated with alcohol and peeled back to reshape the layer underneath. The process prevents complications associated with cataract.

In LASIK or laser in situ keratomileusis, the surface layer of the cornea is scoured away. This is done to reshape the underlying cornea surface. LASIK began in the mid-nineties and has largely replaced the old process of PRK or photorefractive keratectomy since then. With LASIK, a flap is created on top layer of the cornea to allow access to underlying surface of cornea. LASIK prevents most problems of postoperative pain, slow rehabilitation and corneal haze which are seen in the traditional PRK.

Both LASEK and LASIK procedures are effective, predictable and safe for also treating low to moderate near sightedness or myopia. Cataract surgery is not often performed in the doctor’s clinic because it still needs a surgical incision requiring an opening in the eyes.

It will take some weeks to completely heal an eye which has undergone the laser surgery. It is advised for patients who have cataracts in both eyes to let one eye heal first before treating the other eye.

Undergoing cataract surgery treatment gives distinct benefits as it improves your everyday activities, self confidence, work and safety.

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