What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common condition age related and can lead to clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This can lead to blurry or distorted vision for the distance and/or near vision. Our doctors at the clinic offer advanced testing of the eyes to evaluate, treatment plan options and co-management services to help improve your vision.
What are common vision symptoms you may have with Cataracts?
The following are a list of symptoms you may experience if you have cataracts:
- Blurred or cloudy vision for distance or near viewing
- Difficulty seeing in very bright light or at night in dim light
- Some colours may appear faded or yellow in colour
- May notice double vision or ghosting of images
What are the different types of Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery?
Monofocal Lenses- These are designed to provide best vision in the distance. You will typically require reading glasses for near tasks after surgery.- Multifocal IOLs- These have corrective zones built into the lens, similar like a bifocal or trifocal eyeglasses. These will allow you to see clear in the distance and near. Also some may help to correct intermediate vision.
- Exteneded depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOLs – These IOL’s only have one corrective zone, however this zone can be stretched to allow distance and intermediate vision.
- Toric lenese: These IOL’s have a extra built- in correction for astigmatism. These are available in monofocal and some presbyopia- correcting IOLs.
- Light- adjustable lens (LAL)- These are the newest type of monofocal IOL and is the only type of IOL that can be customized after surgery. After the surgery the ophthalmologist is able to adjust the lens for any leftover refractive error after your eye heals so you do not need glasses for distance and near vision
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma describes a number of related conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. Glaucoma can be associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP). If glaucoma is not treated this can lead to damage of the optic nerve, which can lead to blindness and changes in the field of vision.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma
A full comprehensive eye exam is necessary to diagnose glaucoma. Screening only for eye pressure does not provide all the information necessary to accurately diagnose. The following will be tested during the eye exam: Measuring the eye pressure, grading your eye’s drainage angle, examining the optic nerve, testing the peripheral side vision and measuring the thickness of your cornea
Types of Glaucoma
Open Angle Glaucoma- In this form of glaucoma the angle is open and the eye pressure may be high. There are typically no obvious warning signs in early stages.
Normal Tension Glaucoma- Patients that have normal tension glaucoma will have eye pressures that are in the normal range and will still show damage to the optic nerve. Most patients will not notice any changes in their vision until the optic nerve damage is more severe.
Angle Closure Glaucoma- Most patients will not show any symptoms prior to an attack. During an attack the following symptoms may present: Severe eye pain, redness of the eye, decreased vision, seeing halos, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
Treatment:
Damage that is present from glaucoma is permanent and cannot be reversed. However, medicine and surgery can be used to help further damage.
Eye drop medicine can be used to lower eye pressures. Some of the eye drops work by reducing the amount of aqueous fluid the eye produces. Other eye drops work by helping the fluid flow more easily through the drainage angle.
Laser surgery can also be used to help reduce eye pressures to help treat glaucoma. The laser helps the fluid drain from the eye. Trabeculoplasty is one type of laser surgery. The ophthalmologist uses a laser to make the drainage angle work better. This allows the fluid to flow out properly and reduces the eye pressure. Iridotomy is another type of laser surgery used on patients with angle- closure glaucoma. The ophthalmologist uses a laser to create a tiny hole in the iris. The tiny hole will help the fluid flow to the drainage angle. Lastly, there are also some surgeries that can be done to help treat glaucoma. For example trabeculectomy, where the surgeon will create a flap in the sclera which creates a bubble in the conjunctiva called a filtration bleb.
The aqueous fluid will be able to drain from the flap into the bleb lowering the eye pressure. Cataract surgery can also be done to help patients with narrow angles. By removing the eye’s natural lens this may help lower the eye pressure.