What is a cataract?
Opacity or clouding of the normally clear lens or its capsule is termed a cataract. The lens has to be clear for good vision. Vision through a “cloudy” lens produces blurry vision similar to looking through a frosted glass. For an early cataract, vision may improve by using different eyeglasses, magnifying lenses or stronger lighting. If these don’t help, surgery is the only effective treatment.

Cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process, but can also come from:

• Eye injuries/trauma
• Certain medications
• Certain diseases
• Genetic inheritance

Is cataract surgery effective?
Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. today. It is also on of the safest and most effective. In about 90% of cases (National Eye Institute), people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward. The most common method for improving vision after cataract surgery is to replace the cataract with a permanent implant called an intraocular lens, or IOL.

Three types of IOLs are currently available:

Standard Monofocal Intraocular Lens – This type of lens provides the patient with a distance focal point and clears vision for driving, watching T.V., and doing everything not requiring reading vision. Most commonly used IOL.

Multifocal Intraocular Lens – This type of IOL utilizes different fixed visual zones built into the optics of the lens as to provide distance and near vision. Patients have reported diminished vision, increased glare and halos when driving a night.

Accommodating Intraocular lens – This particular IOL is design to provide continuous range of vision for distance, intermediate, near and everything in between.