AN EYE-OPENER ABOUT CATARACTS & CATARACT SURGERY GREAT VISION IS AGELESS

There’s no reason to live behind the fog of cataracts. It’s one of the most common age-related eye conditions, affecting 2.5 million Canadians every year. The only way to restore vision loss due to cataracts is through surgery. Dr. Raj Rathee, chair of Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and head of ophthalmology at North York General Hospital, breaks down what you need to know about the procedure, recovery and innovative intraocular lens options to help you see clearly for years to come.

A CATARACT IS A CLOUDING OF THE EYE’S NATURAL LENS

The lens in your eye is made of mostly water and protein. When protein clumps together, it starts to cloud part of the lens. A cloudy lens prevents light from passing through to the retina at the back of the eye allowing the image to be “seen” by the brain. Cataracts can cause blurry vision, dimmed colours, trouble seeing at night, light sensitivity, seeing halos around objects, and double vision.

CATARACTS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF BLINDNESS

Once diagnosed with cataracts, many want to seek treatment as soon as possible. “Waiting too long and suffering with poor vision puts people at higher risk of falls, accidents, and difficulty driving — not to mention day-to-day tasks become harder to perform,” says Dr. Rathee. When your cataracts start to affect daily activities, it may be time to think about cataract surgery.

IT’S NORMAL TO FEEL NERVOUS

A recent survey commissioned by Alcon Canada revealed that fear is often a barrier to cataract surgery, with 50 per cent of respondents feeling nervous about it. “Patients come in scared and have a lot of anxiety and fear,” says Dr. Rathee. Yet, cataract surgery is very common and safe. More than 15 million cataract surgeries are performed worldwide each year. In North America alone, more than 4 million people every year have the surgery.

Dr. Rathee reassures patients that there is medicine administered during surgery to sedate and relax you. He emphasizes the importance of speaking to an eye care professional to learn more about the procedure and cautions patients against basing facts on advice from friends. Everyone’s eyes are different and we shouldn’t compare one patient’s experience or surgery to another.

CATARACT SURGERY TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR

Long past are the days when cataract surgery was an inpatient procedure. Today patients are treated in less than an hour and sent home shortly after. The procedure is performed in an

out-patient clinic, using a topical anesthetic to numb the eye and minimize discomfort. Through a tiny incision in the cornea, at the front of the eye, the surgeon breaks up the cataract and removes the patient’s natural lens replacing it with a new intraocular lens.

RECOVERY IS USUALLY VERY QUICK

The vast majority of patients resume day-to-day activities within a few days following surgery and most are fully recovered within a few weeks. “Patients see clearer, better than they have in years — in some cases, since they were very young. With the right intraocular lens, quality of life can significantly improve,” says Dr. Rathee. Immediately following the procedure, patients may find that their eyes feel irritated, scratchy or sore. To reduce those symptoms, you’ll be given antiinflammatory and antibiotic drops and an eye shield to wear at night.

SPEAK WITH YOUR EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT YOUR LENS OPTIONS

Understanding the different intraocular lens options will help you make an informed decision. Discuss your vision needs and goals with your eye care professional to determine which lens would best suit your lifestyle. Be clear with your expectations and how you’d like to see after surgery.

“The great side effect of fixing cataracts is that you can achieve a better range of vision from near to distance and, in many cases, reduce your dependency on glasses for a range of vision,” explains Dr. Rathee. “Basic lens implants are excellent, but there are new options available.”

Basic monofocal lenses provide better vision at one distance (typically far distances) but won’t fix problems like astigmatism (an irregular curvature of the eye surface causing blurry vision) or presbyopia (the gradual loss of your eye’s ability to focus on objects nearby).

“New innovations in corrective lens options can provide patient’s with excellent vision at all distances, treating presbyopia and astigmatism,” says Dr. Rathee. “For many patients, it can mean reducing the dependency on reading glasses.

Alcon PanOptix ® trifocal intraocular lenses are a viable solution for people with presbyopia undergoing cataract surgery. They provide superior visual performance for all distances so you can get back to your normal activities and enjoy life to the fullest without blurry vision.

SEE THE FULL PICTURE

If you are considering cataract surgery, speak with your eye care professional about your postsurgery vision goals or visit SeeTheFullPicture. ca

WAITING TOO LONG AND SUFFERING WITH POOR VISION PUTS PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK OF FALLS, ACCIDENTS, AND DIFFICULTY DRIVING