Cataracts are no joke. They block vision, create painful glare, and desaturate colors. They affect over 24 million Americans older than 40, more people than any other vision problem in America, and are in fact the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

What Exactly is a Cataract?

Cataracts are caused by a buildup of certain proteins on the lens of the eye, causing images to seem cloudy. They can come from a large number of sources including overexposure to UV rays (such as sunlight), diseases such as diabetes or obesity, excessive smoking and/or drinking alcohol, genetics, and certain steroid medications.

There are certain ways to help prevent cataracts from forming. Limiting risk factors that are in your control such as smoking, drinking, and managing your diabetes properly goes a long ways towards improving not only your overall health, but specifically helps prevent early onset cataracts. A nutrient rich diet will also help. However, cataracts are also, unfortunately, an unavoidable part of aging. Luckily, cataract surgery can be performed, and is performed frequently. It is considered one of the safest surgeries that exists.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

The goal of cataract surgery is to remove the affected lens and replace it with an artificial one called an IOL, or intraocular lens. There are different types of lenses to choose from, depending on your ability to see and your preferences. Fixed focus monofocal lenses can see at a distance very well, but require external forces, like reading glasses, to see up close. Multifocal lenses can focus at a variety of distances, but may increase glare. Accommodating lenses move in the eye like the natural lens does in  order to focus at multiple distances. Some lenses can even correct presbyopia!

Prior to the surgery, your eyes will be examined extensively to determine what the shape of your cornea is, which IOL to use, and how powerful it should be. The surgery itself lasts about 15 minutes (per eye, though if you have cataracts in both eyes, you will usually be scheduled to have two separate surgeries to allow for one eye to completely heal), but preparation and rest time can make it take about an hour and a half.

Afterwards, you will be sent home, but you will not be allowed to drive, so make sure you have a ride. Be extremely careful with your eyes while they heal; they will be at high risk of infection. Recovery takes about 8 weeks, depending on the patient. During this time, you will be prescribed special eye drops, you will be given a shield for your eyes to wear while sleeping, and you will have to schedule several follow up appointments.

Why Should I Choose Dr. Diamante?

When selecting an eye surgeon it is important to find one that is experienced, educated, and above all trustworthy. Vision is a huge part of life, and you don’t want just anyone to perform eye surgery.

For people living in Rhode Island, Dr. Diamante is the best choice for cataract surgery. He has well over 20 years of experience, including over 30,00 microsurgical procedures. He is board-certified with the American Board of Ophthalmology, and is a member of 5 other esteemed surgical societies. If that isn’t enough, contact us here to find out what makes Dr. Diamante so trusted by his patients.