Did you know cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in adults? Cataracts are very common. Approximately 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts and half of people 80 and older will develop cataracts. 

A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens. This lens assists with focusing light rays onto the retina, which communicates images to the brain. After the cataract starts to cloud the lens, it is impossible to return the lens to its clear state with medications or other treatment. 

"Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, but in most situations, they are easily removed" says Dr. Charles Heaton, M.D., "Today we use a no shot, no stitch and no patches surgery which generally takes less than 10 minutes to perform."  Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States, with more than 1.6 million procedures performed each year.  The Heaton Eye Associates Laser and Surgery Center performed over 2400 procedures in 2010.

"If there was ever a period in human existence to have cataract surgery, now is the best time. Today, cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, and recovery time is very fast" says Dr. Heaton, "We replace the cataract lens with a new state-of-the-art lens implant. Some of these implants offer patients near vision restoration. They are called Lifestyle Lens Implants and allow patients to do most things without glasses. It’s a great feeling not only to restore my patients’ vision but also to give them great spectacle independence.”

So how do you know if you have a cataract? Dr. Heaton explains: “Most patients start to notice issues with glare while driving at night, a loss of color, loss of detail or sharpness on items such as road signs, or they tend to see a large change in prescription during their annual eye exam. “

Dr. Heaton says, “The time to have a cataract removed is when it begins to interfere with a patient’s vision and daily activities.”

Regardless of popular belief, lasers are not used to remove mature cataracts. To learn more about cataracts or to schedule a cataract exam, contact Heaton Eye Associates at (903) 526-0444 or www.heatoneye.com