During the early phase of cataract formation, patients will note subtle changes in their vision.  They will report that their vision with their present glasses or contacts is not as sharp as when they first received the glasses.  They will need more light to read.  Street signs at night will be more difficult to see until they are very close to the signs.  There may be more glare from oncoming car headlights.

These symptoms are initially treated by updating the glasses or contact lens prescriptions.  As the cataract clouds, a different glasses prescription is needed to bend the light around the new cloudy areas that have developed since the previous glasses prescription,  In a sense, this means that patients with early cataracts face the challenge of trying to catch up the progressing clouding.  Hence, patients wonder if a more permanent solution to their vision problems makes more sense than updating their glasses every 6 – 12 months while struggling in between.

An alternative treatment for symptoms related to early cataract formation is consideration of cataract surgery.  The advantages of cataract surgery in these patients are that surgery: (1) permanently removes the clouded natural lens; (2) is generally a 1 time procedure; (3) replaces the cataract with an artificial, clear lens or implant that further improves the vision because glasses prescriptions can be built into the implant (as if the glasses were permanently placed inside the eye); and (4) provides long-term stable vision as the artificial implant does not change over time, as long as the health of the remainder of the eye remains the same.  For these reasons, patient even in their 50s and 60s are considering cataract surgery as a safe, effective, long-term treatment to improve their ability to drive and read without “filmy,” “hazy,” “ghosting,” or “glary” vision.

Like any surgery, LASIK has its risks, including fluctuating vision, dryness and halos, particularly during the early healing period. However, the risk of significant loss of vision was calculated at 1 in 10,000 (0.01%).

The risk for developing a serious contact lens infection was calculated to be significantly higher, at approximately 1 in 100 (1.0%) over 30 years of use, with the risk of serious vision loss at 1 in 2,000 (0.05%).

Direct comparison is difficult, as complications due to surgery usually are noted shortly after surgery, whereas the risks associated with contact lens wear – eye sensitivity, chronic allergies, dry eye syndrome, contact lens intolerance – accumulate over years. Unsafe practices, such as wearing contact lenses overnight, using contacts longer than recommended, or using tap water to store contacts can significantly increase the risk of infection and other complications.

For these reasons, contact lens are considered a medical device by the FDA and a yearly examination is required for renewal of contact lens prescriptions.

Glaucoma is generally characterized by higher internal or intra-ocular eye pressures, damage to ocular nerve tissue or the optic nerve, and side vision or peripheral field of vision loss.  If untreated, it ultimately results in blindness.  The diagnosis of glaucoma requires a detailed eye exam.  For this reason, eye exams for “healthy” individuals who don’t even require glasses is recommended on an annual basis…to help catch this “silent thief.”  Screening for glaucoma can be done through microscope examination of the back of the eye, measuring of the intraocular pressure (such as with the “puff test”), laser scans of optic nerve dimensions, and automated peripheral field tests.

These state-of-art diagnostic equipment are available at Pepose Vision Institute for glaucoma diagnosis, including the Ocular Response Analyzer, Pascal Tonometer, Optic Nerve Fiber Analysis, and advanced visual field testing.  So if you would like to be evaluated to determine if you are at risk for developing glaucoma, particularly if someone in your family has glaucoma, then please contact us at 636-728-0111.  Other glaucoma risk factors include African-American or Hispanic race, older age, nearsightedness, previous eye injuries, steroid use, and diabetes.