How Do I Know If I Have Cataracts?

Cataracts aren't always obvious, and if they are not blatantly obstructing your vision, you may not even know you have them. The only sure way to know is to have a qualified, experienced eye doctor do an eye examination.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are areas of cloudiness forming in the lens of the eye due to proteins that congeal. Cataracts are not contagious and may appear in one eye and not the other. They tend to worsen over time but may be located out of the center of your vision where you may be less aware of them.

In the early stages they may be difficult to see, and cause only minor disturbance to your vision. As they become denser, or wider you will notice increasingly blurry vision. This may seem, at first, to be a deteriorating ability to focus, that could be corrected by a prescription for stronger glasses.

While cataracts are more prevalent in older people, they can occur in younger people as well. In particular, injury to the eye(s) predisposes them to cataracts, which may cause them to appear at a much younger age than one would expect. Over half of all people, by age 80 years have cataracts.

Risk Factors for Cataracts

While doctors understand what increases the risk for cataracts, they still don't understand what actually causes them. Risks include:

• Age, progressively increases with age
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Long-term use of alcohol
• Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight
• Exposure to lead

Prevention and Treatment

While you may not be able to prevent all cataracts, you can make some changes that might delay their development. Based on the risk factors, keeping diabetes under control, quitting smoking, drinking in moderation if at all, wearing UV protected sunglasses and hats with brims to block UV sunlight, and avoiding lead can help delay or diminish the development of cataracts. Treatment is indicated when the cataracts interfere with your ability to carry out normal tasks, and involves surgically replacing the lens with an intraocular lens (IOL.)

If you suspect that you have cataracts, it's time for an eye examination. Please contact Carter Eye Center in Dallas for an appointment with one of our highly qualified and experienced eye doctors.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the natural lens develops opaque or cloudy areas that prevent light from passing through to the retina properly. Cataracts may occur as a normal part of aging, or as a result of trauma. Treatment involves removing and replacing the lens with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL.)

Cataracts develop slowly, so are not always apparent in their early stages. As proteins in the lens cohere to each other they begin to form cloudy areas that diminish visual clarity. This may seem, for a while, to be merely a need for "new glasses" with a stronger prescription. Over time they can develop into visible cataracts, for which the only treatment is replacement.

There are three types of IOLs and each has pros and cons. Crystalens®, an accommodating lens, moves under the control of your eye muscles. ReZoom® and ReSTOR® are multifocal IOLs, or fixed lenses. They don't move within the eye. These use concentric rings of incremental focal power to allow good vision at various distances.

Older types of IOLs are still used occasionally. These are monofocal lenses that focus clearly at a single distance range. With the monofocal lenses you will need glasses to see at other distances.

Astigmatism can complicate IOL implant surgery, and cause the individual to need glasses for some or all activities. An alternative is to undergo a procedure to correct the astigmatism as well. Your eye surgeon can advise you of the most suitable options once he does a thorough eye exam.

The Carter Eye Center in Dallas is a perfect choice for your exam. Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff use the newest equipment and techniques to diagnose and treat cataracts. Please visit their site for more information, and contact them for a free consultation. Call 1-800-950-2020.

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Does LASIK Hurt?

No Pain

One of the remarkable facts about LASIK is the lack of pain from this surgery. During surgery, you will be given anesthetic eye drops, eliminating pain from the procedure itself. You might feel a little pressure, but that shouldn’t cause any discomfort.

There is, however, some discomfort that you might experience for a short period (12 to 24 hours), such as itchy or watery eyes or even dry eyes until the nerves heal. The total healing period for LASIK can take six months, but recovery to normal activities can be as soon as two days to a week.

Because the tear ducts and sinuses affect each other, dry sinuses may accompany dry eyes, causing "sinus headaches" for a short time. You will be given drops that will relieve the discomfort.

It isn't entirely certain why dry-eye occurs, as there are several mechanisms involved in tear-production. One theory is that the tear stimulating nerve is severed during corneal surgery, and tears don’t return until that nerve heals.

You can lessen the effect of dry-eye by avoiding antihistamines and other medications that tend to dry up sinuses (and eyes as well). Check with your doctor about medication that you can change or eliminate or drops that will lubricate your eyes. Avoid drops that have preservatives. Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, use a humidifier and avoid dry or windy areas. Air conditioning, fans, heating systems and extreme cold can dehumidify the air, aggravating dry eyes.

Plenty of Gain

On the positive side, LASIK results in clear vision almost immediately. While dry-eye can blur vision, using drops until natural tears resume will take care of that effect. With risks running as low as 1%, the benefits of LASIK are many.

Dr. Harvey Carter and his staff at Carter Eye Center of Dallas are ready to make your LASIK surgery experience pain free and comfortable for you. Please visit them at Carter Eye Center or call 1-800-950-2020 to schedule a free consultation.

CustomVue® Wavefront Technology

What is Wavefront Technology?

Wavefront technology has been used for years to adjust telescopes to eliminate aberrations caused by the earth's atmosphere. This technology, applied to LASIK surgery, offers a very high degree of safety and precision in shaping the cornea. Wavefront technology is used both to diagnose aberrations, as well as to ablate the excess tissue.

What are the Advantages of Wavefront Technology?

The CustomVue® wavefront can pinpoint a broader range of refractive errors than other diagnostic methods, giving many patients, who could not qualify for other procedures, the option for LASIK corrective surgery. As a diagnostic measure, CustomVue® wavefront is accurate enough to determine if the patients' aberrations would be made worse from surgery, or it can determine which LASIK procedure is best for the specific individual.

CustomVue® wavefront's accuracy in ablating excess corneal tissue results in more precise shaping of the cornea. Many patients experience outcomes of better than 20/20 vision. It can also diagnose higher order aberrations better than other diagnostic methods can.

And If That Isn't Enough

According to USAeyes.org, a LASIK-patient advocacy organization, "…virtually every person considering Lasik, LASEK, PRK, or Epi-Lasik should have a wavefront diagnostic evaluation." Read more about CustomVue® and wavefront technology.

Dr. Carter and his staff at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas have extensive experience, and work with state-of-the-art equipment, including the CustomVue® VISX STAR 4 wavefront laser. You can feel confident in getting the best care possible. Please call 1-800-950-2020 or contact the Carter Eye Center for a free consultation.