The Latest in Cataract Treatment with or without Surgery

Cataracts are a result of protein buildup on your eye’s lens that progressively clouds and blurs your vision as you age. By the age of 65, nearly half of the American population will experience vision loss due to a cataract.

Cataract progression can vary from patient to patient, and even differ between each eye. As cataracts develop, some patients start to notice colors appear less vibrant and almost faded, or they experience frequent changes in their vision prescription. Everyday activities such as reading, watching TV, and driving can become impossible for most patients suffering from this degenerative eye disease. Oftentimes though, due to its slow progression, cataracts can go unnoticed for years until the symptoms become so severe permanent damage to your eye and vision has already occurred.

Currently, there is no non-surgical treatment approved for cataract removal, though there are ongoing studies into possible solutions. Any alternative medication, eye drops, or other methods that advertise the reversal of cataracts, are not approved by the FDA. Laser cataract surgery is the only treatment that will permanently remove cataracts and restore vision loss caused by this degenerative disease.

Are There Ways to Prevent the Progression of Cataracts?

There is no natural way to cure cataracts or reverse their effects, but there are several strategies to help prevent cataracts and help slow their progression. 

Receive Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

Comprehensive eye exams allow your ophthalmologist to evaluate the overall health of your eyes and screen for any of the subtle signs of cataract development, among other detrimental occual conditions. At NeoVision Eye Center, our eye doctors perform a series of non-invasive diagnostic tests during every comprehensive eye exam to ensure the longevity of your eye and vision health. 

Manage Your Overall Health

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce your chances of developing cataracts and even slow the progression of their development. The best healthy habits that have been linked with reducing cataract development include:

  • Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables full of antioxidants (vitamin E, Vitamin C, Lutein, etc.)
  • Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption
  • Effectively managing other health problems that can increase cataract risk such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure

Protect Your Eyes from Environmental Hazards 

Protecting your eyes from environmental threats is a great way to reduce the risks of developing a cataract caused by an injury or exacerbating its progression due to harmful irritants. 

  • Avoid heavy air pollution as much as possible
  • Wear sunglasses that effectively block harmful ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
  • Wear protective safety glasses when the risk of foreign objects entering your eyes is present

What are the Long Term Effects of Cataracts Without Treatment?

Age-related cataracts are extremely prevalent and detrimental to daily life and cause your vision to slowly degrade overtime. This eye disease will ultimately lead to complete blindness if a cataract is left untreated. In fact, untreated cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. 

If cataracts are left untreated they can grow very dense and hard, which is known as “hypermature.” These hypermature cataracts can cause inflammation in the eye and increased pressure that may lead to glaucoma. Cataract surgery is still an effective option to remove hypermature cataracts, but it becomes a more difficult process.

Will Laser Cataract Surgery Restore My Vision?

Laser Cataract surgery is a common, safe, and effective procedure to remove the hardened natural lens of your eye and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Over 95% of patients immediately experience improved eyesight following their cataract removal surgery. Most people even report experiencing even better vision quality after receiving IOL implants compared to their pre-cataract eyesight.

NeoVision is one of the few surgical eye centers in the Bay Area that offers advanced Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery to ensure even safer and more accurate results. Our LENSX® Laser System is an innovative femtosecond laser designed specifically for refractive cataract surgery and can permanently remove cataracts and restore your eyesight.

NeoVision Eye Center is a Bay Area Leader in Cataract Treatment with or without Surgery

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At NeoVision Eye Center, we take pride in offering the highest quality care and the most advanced laser technology to permanently remove cataracts and improve the lives of our Bay Area patients. Our ophthalmologists have over 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating degenerative eye diseases and optical issues. We are happy to answer all of your questions and guide you on the path back to great vision with our specialized laser cataract surgery.
If you have concerns regarding developing cataracts or questions about previous cataract surgery, please contact our experts at NeoVision Eye Center today for a consultation.