A clouding of the eye’s natural lens

Most people have some clouding of their eye’s natural crystalline lens after the age of 60. This clouding is more commonly referred to as a cataract. About 50% of Americans in the age group 65-74 have at least one cataract, and about 70% of those age 75 and over have cataracts. Simply stated, when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, light cannot be properly focused on the retina; thus, visual acuity decreases. The only “cure” for poor vision due to a cataract is removal of the eye’s lens and implantation of a new, man-made focusing device called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Many people with cataracts may experience symptoms such as :

• Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy vision
• Difficulty in seeing to drive, especially at night
• Trouble seeing to do close work
• Problems seeing television
• Colors that seem dull, faded, not as bright
• Frequent changes and a stronger glasses prescription
• Haloes around lights
• Bothersome glare
• A milky white spot or cloudy spot visually apparent in the center of the eye

Diagnosing a cataract

Most cataracts develop as part of the aging process, but may be present at birth ( congenital) or result from an injury, systemic disease ( diabetes ) , or steroid use. Using specialized equipment, cataracts as well as other eye diseases are diagnosed during a complete eye examination by your optometrist or ophthalmologist at The Eye Center. The mere presence of a cataract does not indicate the need for surgery. Some cataracts may be slow growing, and vision may be corrected by stronger glasses for a period of time. Some cataracts develop more rapidly than others, and your eye doctor can monitor changes in vision and your cataracts with periodic eye examinations.

Deciding on surgery

The decision to undergo cataract surgery is typically made when poor vision interferes with lifestyle activities such as driving, watching television or reading. Today’s state-of-the-art technology can even indicate what potential vision may be post-operatively. Prior to the era of advanced cataract technology, patients often waited for their cataract to become very mature, or “ripe,” before undergoing surgery. While patients were waiting for the cataract to “ripen,” they were losing significant vision, and daily living activities became very difficult, if not impossible. Cataract surgery was an in-hospital procedure that often saw the patient lying very still for days with his/her head wedged securely between sandbags to prevent movement. After surgery, having useful vision depended on wearing thick, cumbersome “cataract glasses” that distorted vision and provided no peripheral vision or cataract lenses that proved to be awkward for most patients to handle. Today’s technology has made this a thing of the past.

A Medicare-certified surgery center

Today, cataract patients at The Eye Center may have their cataract removed at The Wilson County Eye Surgery Center adjacent to the Lebanon facility, and be gone from home only a matter of hours. F. Kirk Bowles , MD, Randolph R. Evans, MD, William D. Schenk, MD, offer advanced cataract care and also make available the revolutionary ReSTOR lens that may enable patients to see well after surgery without glasses. No more hospital stays; and awkward, unattractive “cataract glasses” are a thing of the past. Now, patients may have cataract surgery at noon and go out to dinner that evening thanks to the modern miracle of today’s cataract technology offered by the surgeons at The Eye Center.

Undergoing cataract surgery

Patients choosing cataract surgery will undergo a number of short, painless tests including an A-scan to determine the precise power of the intraocular lens that will offer optimum vision post-operatively. Many patients choose to have the ReSTOR multifocal lens implant in an effort to reduce their dependence on glasses post-operatively. Your surgeon will discuss your implant options prior to your procedure. A surgical counselor will work with you to schedule surgery and answer any questions you may have. You will be advised when to arrive at The Wilson County Eye Surgery Center adjacent to the Lebanon office.

The surgery itself typically takes about 10-20 minutes. You will be awake for your procedure, but your eye will be numbed to prevent pain. You will be given written post-operative instructions and a counselor will review post-operative care with you and a family member or a friend. Following surgery, there are NO visual restrictions, and very few physical limitations.