Cataracts
Things You Should Know
How Can Cataracts Affect My Vision?
The clouding of the lens which is diagnosed as a cataract can cause a wide variety of visual symptoms. The symptoms can include blurry vision, trouble with vision in low light, trouble with glare and halos around lights and trouble with changing lighting conditions. These symptoms often start gradually and increase over time.
Some patients may have a slow progression of symptoms over years and other patients may noticed a rapid deterioration of their vision over several months. The best way to identify whether your symptoms are due to cataract lens changes is to have routine eye examinations. Cataract development is a common age related change however, in certain cases even young patients may develop cataract.
It is possible to reduce the progression of cataract lens changes to some degree by wearing sunglasses regularly.
Cataract Lens Implants
Things To Know: Standard Implants vs Specialty Implants
Standard Implants
Cataract surgery is performed by an Ophthalmologist as an out-patient procedure. When having cataract surgery, the cloudy parts of the natural lens are removed and an implant is put in its place. The standard implant which is covered by your BC MSP (Carecard) is a monofocal lens. Monofocal means that it can be customized to allow for great distance vision or near vision but not both. Patients who chose to have this type of implant will require spectacles for best vision after surgery. This may however, be as simple as using over the counter readers for near tasks. Your surgeons office will counsel you on the best implant options for you,
Specialty Implants
Once the cloudy parts of the natural lens are removed during cataract surgery, the Ophthalmologist can place a specialty lens implant. There are several different types of specialty lenses and your surgeons office will discuss the differences with you and let you know which type of lens will work best for your eyes. If you are a candidate for a specialty lens implant, vision will be improved at all distances which can significantly reduce your need for glasses after surgery.
