Your ophthalmologist will examine and test your eyes to make a cataract diagnosis. This comprehensive eye exam will include dilation. This means eye drops will widen your pupils.
- A patient having a slit-lamp exam
- Slit-lamp exam
- Slit-lamp exam
- Your ophthalmologist will examine your cornea, iris, lens and the other areas at the front of the eye. The special slit-lamp microscope makes it easier to spot abnormalities.
Retinal exam
When your eye is dilated, the pupils are wide open so the doctor can more clearly see the back of the eye. Using the slit lamp, an ophthalmoscope or both, the doctor looks for signs of cataract. Your ophthalmologist will also look for glaucoma, and examine the retina and optic nerve.
Refraction and visual acuity test
This test assesses the sharpness and clarity of your vision. Each eye is tested individually for the ability to see letters of varying sizes.
Once I have a cataract diagnosis, what should I do?
- Have an eye exam every year if you’re older than 65, or every two years if younger.
- Protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses that block at least 99 percent UV and a hat.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking is a key risk factor for cataracts.
- Use brighter lights for reading and other activities. A magnifying glass may be useful, too.
- Limit driving at night once night vision, halos or glare become problems.
- Take care of any other health problems, especially diabetes.
- Get the right eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.
- When it becomes difficult to complete your regular activities, consider cataract surgery.
Make an informed decision about cataract surgery. Have a discussion with your ophthalmologist about:the surgery, preparation for and recovery after surgery, benefits and possible complications of cataract surgery, cataract surgery costs, other questions you have.
Cataract Treatment
Cataracts can be removed only with surgery.
If your cataract symptoms are not bothering you very much, you don’t have to remove a cataract. You might just need a new eyeglass prescription to help you see better. You should consider surgery when cataracts keep you from doing things you want or need to do.
How does cataract surgery work?
During cataract surgery, your eye surgeon will remove your eye’s cloudy natural lens. Then he or she will replace it with an artificial lens. This new lens is called an intraocular lens (or IOL). When you decide to have cataract surgery, your doctor will talk with you about IOLs and how they work.
People who have had cataract surgery may have their vision become hazy again years later. This is usually because the lens capsule has become cloudy. The capsule is the part of your eye that holds the IOL in place. Your ophthalmologist can use a laser to open the cloudy capsule and restore clear vision. This is called a capsulotomy.
Cataracts are a very common reason people lose vision, but they can be treated. You and your ophthalmologist should discuss your cataract symptoms. Together you can decide whether you are ready for cataract surgery.
This information is provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Leading LASIK and Cataract Surgeon, Dr. Neil B. Griffin, has been named a top cataract surgeon by Precision Eye Services. The National Consumer Advisory Board named Dr. Neil B. Griffin one of America’s Best Physicians 2021-2023. He has also received over 16 multiple local distinctions, including Best Laser Eye Surgeon and Best Ophthalmologist.
Griffin Eye Center offers the latest in cataract surgery with the most advanced Intra-Ocular Lenses available and one of the first to include the new RX Sight Light Adjustable Lens for cataract surgery. The clinic has a state-of-the-art on-site LASIK suite for the best Laser Vision Correction possible and offers more options for individualized Laser Vision Correction.
Dr. Neil B. Griffin is a leading ophthalmologist and specializes in cataract and LASIK surgery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He provides world class surgical technology and offers the most advanced visual diagnostics to the North and South Carolina area. His patients come from all over for the latest LASIK and Cataract surgery. Some areas like Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, Little River, South Carolina, and Calabash, Shallotte, North Carolina and many other states.
For more information contact us at griffineyecenter.com.