It’s time to finally stop living with cataracts. You’ve booked your upcoming Reno cataract surgery, and you’re very excited. Yet, you’re also a bit overwhelmed and maybe even a little scared. It’s okay! A surgery like this is a big step in restoring your vision, and you have every right to ask questions in order to feel a peace of mind. One question many of our patients ask is whether or not they will need glasses after their cataract surgery. We’re going to answer that question, as well as a few others, right now!
What are Cataracts?
A cataract is a clouding of your eye’s natural lens. As the condition progresses, your lens becomes increasingly clouded, preventing light from passing through to the retina clearly. This results in a progressive deterioration of vision. As the cataract gets worse, the eye has a harder time focusing. In early stages, glasses may help you see better. As the lens gets cloudier, your doctor may recommend surgery to restore your vision.
Cataracts are an extremely common vision condition for seniors. More than 24 million Americans have cataracts, and approximately half of Americans will develop the condition by the time they are 75 years old. You’re not alone having cataracts and you’re not alone wanting them removed! Fortunately, clear vision can easily be restored with cataract surgery.
During cataract surgery, your eye’s clouded lens is removed and replaced by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Most cataract surgery involves implanting a single-focus lens, which means vision correction is usually still required. But our state-of-the-art IOLs permit focused vision at a range of distances, and can even restore reading vision. We also have IOLs to address patients with astigmatism.
Today’s advanced techniques provide the very best possible outcomes. Eye Care Professionals’ highly experienced ophthalmologists are area leaders in cataract surgery who pioneered some of these state-of-the-art techniques. In fact, Dr. Mills was the first surgeon to perform Precision LASER cataract surgery in the state of Nevada. In many cases, there are advantages to performing portions of cataract surgery with a computer-driven laser programmed to carry out many of the most important steps in the surgery.
Will I Need Glasses After Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is an effective way to restore your vision, but it is important to understand that there are some instances where you may still need glasses after your procedure. There are several factors which may impact your need to wear glasses after cataract surgery. These include:
- Your overall eye health
- Whether or not you have astigmatism
- Your current eyeglass prescription
- The type of IOL used during your procedure
Traditional IOLs are monofocal, meaning that they are only able to focus clearly at one visual point. If you choose a monofocal IOL, you may see clearly at distances, but still require glasses for near vision tasks, like reading a restaurant menu or seeing your phone screen, after cataract surgery.
You do have a better choice! Just like your television and your car, today’s cataract surgery is much different than what was available in years past. Modern technology and recent advances have resulted in a wide range of premium IOL options. Many premium IOLs are multifocal and provide you with the ability to focus clearly at multiple distances.
Other benefits of using these multifocal IOLs include the fact that you’ll have a better range of vision, improved vision in a wide range of lighting conditions, and the ability to read and perform other near-vision tasks. In many instances, the use of a premium IOL will reduce, if not eliminate entirely, your need for glasses after cataract surgery. That’s very exciting news for cataract patients who want to ditch the glasses for good!
Reno Cataract Surgery at Eye Care Professionals
Founded in the 1950s, Eye Care Professionals has a long tradition of setting Reno’s standard for excellent medical eye care. Our highly experienced ophthalmologists remain at the forefront of the field. If you have any more questions, we are here to answer them. If you haven’t yet had a chance to book a cataract surgery, that is the first step. Contact us today!
