While not a retinal problem, cataracts can "return" and can mimic the symptoms of the original cataract; blurred vision, glare and distortion. This can usually be remedied by a simple painless laser procedure called a YAG capsulotomy. Cataract Surgery with Implant Like grey hair, everyone gets cataracts. With time, the natural lens of the eye clouds with time. This clouding decreases … [Read more...]
When You Need Cataract Surgery
February 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Cataract surgery is needed when your vision is not as good as you'd like, and, your eye doctor feels that the elective procedure would help. In cases of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, there may be other factors that weigh in to the decision of having cataract surgery. Cataracts are usually elective surgery. While insurance does cover most cataract surgery, there are a … [Read more...]
It’s Not About Your Vision, It’s About Quality of Life
November 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Decreased vision impacts your quality of life. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are the two leading causes of loss of vision in adults. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can impact your quality of life. Your quality of life , besides visual acuity, is also used to measure the outcome, or success, of a treatment. There are many ways to "measure" visual acuity, but … [Read more...]
Cataract Surgery May Worsen Diabetic Retinopathy
August 29, 2009 By 3 Comments
This post will be short and is written as follow-up to "Diabetics Get Cataracts". There is a study just published in the journal Ophthalmology where patients with diabetes underwent cataract surgery. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy was then followed for at least 12 months. Patients with both Type I and Type II diabetes were followed. Overall, there was an increased incidence of … [Read more...]
Do Cataracts Cause Macular Degeneration?
August 26, 2009 By 6 Comments
Life as a retina specialist is very rewarding. It has special challenges. There are two conditions that increase as we age; macular degeneration and cataracts. Most people understand cataracts. Cataract surgery is intuitive. Vision blurs, glasses don't help, cataract surgery is performed and vision returns! Simple..............right? What happens when cataract surgery doesn't help? … [Read more...]
