Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson
Cataracts are not very fun to live with. As a person ages the lens of their eye becomes a little hardened and when it goes cloudy, eye sight is affected. It is one of the most common eye conditions in the over 55 age group. There is a high chance of anyone in their 70's developing this condition, more so if there is a family history of it or diabetes in the family. Although glasses or contacts can be worn to help correct minor vision problems caused by cataracts, the cloudy area is likely to continue growing. Eventually blurred vision, double vision and poor eyesight can mean reading becomes difficult or seeing things in the distance is not possible. There are some measures and treatments that can be effective before resorting to surgery however. If this all fails to control the condition however then surgery offers an effective and permanent solution. Cataract surgery is safe, quick and totally painless. Recovery does not take long either. The surgery is performed with the patient under a local anesthetic so you can't feel a thing. It takes under half and hour and you can go home the same day. There may be a brief period spent in the hospital after surgery where you wait for the anesthetic to wear off, but otherwise you are free to go. During the procedure a small incision is made on the surface of the eye and ultrasound technology is used to break up and then remove the cloudy lens. A new lens is then fitted and the flap on the front of the eye replaced. Another benefit of cataract surgery is that the lens can be customised to suit the individual's needs. In other words there can be a secondary benefit to the surgery. Someone with shortsightedness can have a lens fitted that corrects this. The same can be done for someone suffering from longsightedness. It is very important that you have regular check ups with your eye doctor so that any problems such as cataracts can be caught early. If you think you may be suffering from this condition or someone in your family is then you should seek medical attention and find out what options are available. With prices now lower than they have ever been, the cost of cataract surgery is affordable and available to all. Cataract operations are very quick and easy to carry out. There is no need to worry about complications or infections either as the procedure carries very few risks. A refractive lens exchange is quick and effective and can be organised and carried out in just a few weeks.
This Article Has Been Published on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 and Read 252 Times