Cataracts

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to a gradual decrease in vision. The lens, which is normally clear, helps focus light onto the retina. When proteins in the lens clump together, they cloud small areas of the lens. Over time, the clouding can increase, making it harder to see. Cataracts can severely limit daily functioning if left untreated.

Symptoms of Cataracts

• Blurry or cloudy vision
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Trouble seeing at night
• Faded colors
• Halos around lights
• Frequent prescription changes in glasses or contacts
• Double vision in one eye

Treatment Options

• Advanced cases: Surgery is the only effective treatment. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). It’s one of the most common and successful surgeries worldwide.

• Standard IOLs fix cataracts but not astigmatism. 
• Toric IOLs are designed with specific curves to correct astigmatism, which is when the cornea or lens is irregularly shaped, causing blurred or distorted vision.
  
  • Multifocal IOLs are designed to provide clear vision at multiple distances — typically near, intermediate, and far. Astigmatism is also corrected with a multifocal implant.

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