- Do You Have Cataracts?
- Who’s at risk of Cataract Formation?
- Your Options For Cataract Treatment or Surgery
- Cataract Surgery The Basics
- Costs of Cataract Surgery
Do You Have Cataracts?
Cataracts are more prevalent than you might think. Believe it or not, by the age of 80, nearly 50% of people develop cataracts. Cataracts are formed as part of a natural aging process in the body and are usually not indicative of any kind of disease. Thank goodness that cataracts can be easily treated by the eye doctors of the Eye Associates of South Texas. They have successfully removed many tens of thousands of cataracts.
You can improve your vision at home with the help of a magnifying glass or additional lighting for immediate relief from mild cataracts. As cataracts get worse, cataract surgery will be eventually needed to restore vision to its natural “crystal clear” state. The latest advances in cataract surgery provide a host of artificial lenses and laser cataract options, including choices that can leave you glasses free for life!
Cataract surgery is the most performed outpatient procedure in the United States. It is also a very safe procedure, with most surgeries lasting less than ten minutes.
Cataracts start as a small opacity in the natural lens that progress to a much more opaque state over time. A lot of the light on your retina is eventually blocked as the density of the cataract increases, this results in dim or blurry vision. Some of the symptoms you may experience are:
• glared vision and halos
• double vision in one eye
• blurriness or cloudiness
• night vision disorder
• constant change in your prescription for glasses (Once or twice a year).
Do you have any of these symptoms? Contact us for a dilated eye examination today.
Who’s at risk of Cataract Formation?
As we age, so to do our eyes, putting everyone at risk for cataract development. Although you may not experience impaired vision, during the aging process you are likely to have some clouding of the natural lens. There are some situations known to accelerate cataract development:
• Diabetes
• Contact with radiation, cancer treatment
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Extreme UV exposure
• Smoking
• History of cataracts in your family
• Eye injury or eye disease
Cataract surgery is only necessary when you start experiencing impaired vision. You may be at risk if you are suffering from any of the above conditions. Cataracts develop over time, however, and the surgical treatment is common and effective. Eye Associates of South Texas is pleased to offer the full range of the most advanced options for cataract surgery in the South Texas area.
Your Options For Cataract Treatment or Surgery
The only way to definitively treat cataracts is with cataract surgery. If you imagine your eye like a camera, if the camera has a dirty lens (cataract) it’s going to take bad pictures. The only way to fix the camera is to remove the dirty lens (cataract) and replace with a brand new crystal clear lens (intraocular lens).
Your options for treating your cataracts can be divided into conservative and surgical. Conservative treatment can mean getting stronger glasses or brighter lights to read or drive, these, however, will not solve the problem causing your blurry vision, the cataract. The surgical option of cataract surgery will provide a permanent improvement to your vision, as long as the structures of the eye are healthy. Your surgeon will remove the eye’s damaged natural lens and replace it with an artificial lens that is crystal clear. Although the results are almost instantaneous, a patient with a previous eye prescription will still need to use glasses after undergoing standard cataract surgery. At Eye Associates of South Texas, we strive to deliver the most advanced eye care technology to our patients. With our wide selection of advanced technology lenses designed to meet a wide range of vision requirements, we also offer the option of more advanced cataract treatments. With the addition of custom lenses created to restore both distance and near vision for reading, you could forever leave behind the inconvenience of glasses!
If you’re looking for cataract surgery in the South Texas area, trust your vision to the Eye Associates of South Texas ‘ experienced cataract surgeons. We are working to make professional cataract removal accessible throughout South Texas with convenient eye clinics in Seguin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, LaVernia, Luling, Gonzales, Lockhart, Hondo, and Castroville. To set up your consultation, contact our office today!
Cataract Surgery The Basics
Costs of Cataract Surgery
When cataracts cause functional limitations due to poor vision, cataract surgery is often necessary. Most health insurance companies are going to cover basic cataract operations. For this basic procedure, a person’s sole financial responsibility is typically deductible and co-payable according to each individual health insurance plan. Health insurance is still billed when advanced laser cataract surgery is performed and covers the basic cataract treatment. If advanced technology lens or laser are used for the treatment of pre-existing astigmatism and /or presbyopia additional fees are charged. Vision plans typically do not apply to cataract surgery; they are usually for glasses and contact lenses. Financing is available to qualifying individuals.