Treatment FAQ

what are the treatment options for cataracts

by Darion Barrows Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What's the Treatment? Surgery is the only way to treat cataracts, but you may not need it right away. If you catch the problem at an early stage, you might be able to get by with a new prescription for your glasses. A stronger lens can make your vision better for a while.Nov 3, 2021

Procedures

Jun 24, 2009 · Cataract symptoms may be improved with new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. Certain tints and coatings also can be added to lenses to reduce symptoms. Even better positioning of lamps or reading lights can help.

Nutrition

The only way to treat cataracts is to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens, called an intraocular lens or IOL. The procedure is about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s very safe and painless with little downtime. Although you’re awake, you’re given a “twilight” anesthesia so you’re comfortable. What Is An IOL?

How to reverse your cataracts naturally?

Oct 28, 2021 · Non-surgical cataract treatments can’t remove cataracts. Instead, this treatment option encourages you to make eyewear and lifestyle changes to improve mild cataract symptoms, like cloudy and blurry vision. These changes can include wearing anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses or new prescription eyeglasses.

What are the new ways to treat cataracts?

Mar 29, 2022 · In these situations, your doctor will still remove your cataract but will forego the artificial lens. Instead, your vision may be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. During the procedure, your eye doctor will use local anesthetic to numb the area around your eye, but you usually stay awake while your cataract is removed.

Can you cure cataracts naturally without surgery?

Apr 12, 2022 · What’s the treatment for cataracts? Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract, but you may not need to get surgery right away. Home treatment. Early on, you may be able to make small changes to manage your cataracts. You can do things like: Use brighter lights at home or work Wear anti-glare sunglasses

What is the best medicine for cataract?

Jul 21, 2012 · • Toric Lens Implant. Toric lens implant is used to correct astigmatism. Patients with cataracts or severe astigmatism can avail of this method in combination with a LASIK surgery. • Refractive Lens Surgery. In cases where in the cataracts has not fully developed yet, the eye surgeon can still prescribe this technique.

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Is there an alternative to surgery for cataracts?

No, you cannot reverse cataracts without surgery. Currently, there is no non-surgical cure for cataracts that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or other government body medical procedure regulators.Sep 3, 2019

What is the best treatment for cataracts of the eye?

When your prescription glasses can't clear your vision, the only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery.Sep 2, 2021

At what stage should cataracts be removed?

In most cases, you need surgery when blurry vision and other symptoms of a cataract starts to interfere with daily activities like reading or driving. There is no drug or eye drop to prevent or treat cataracts. Removing them is the only treatment.

What are the disadvantages of cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery risks include:Inflammation.Infection.Bleeding.Swelling.Drooping eyelid.Dislocation of artificial lens.Retinal detachment.Glaucoma.More items...•Aug 19, 2021

What is cataract treatment?

Early cataract treatment is aimed at improving your quality of vision. When cataract symptoms appear, you may experience cloudy or blurry vision, light sensitivity, poor night vision, double vision, and changes in your eyewear prescription. Certain changes can significantly reduce these symptoms. 1 

How to reduce cataracts?

Cataract symptoms may be improved with new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. Certain tints and coatings also can be added to lenses to reduce symptoms. Even better positioning of lamps or reading lights can help. Your eye doctor may recommend that you wear a hat when outdoors in addition to quality sunglasses ...

When will cataract surgery be done?

on April 19, 2020. If you are diagnosed with a cataract, there are other treatment options that you can consider before choosing surgery to replace your clouded lens .

What is phaco in cataract surgery?

Phacoemulsification (phaco) is the most common type of cataract removal procedure performed today. 3  An ultrasonic device vibrating at a very high speed is inserted into the eye through a very tiny incision.

How many stitches are needed for cataract surgery?

The surgeon then inserts an artificial lens into the eye. Depending on the type of incision used, only one stitch (or none at all) may be required to close the wound. This cataract treatment is also called "small incision cataract surgery.".

Can cataract surgery be done on one eye?

Vision of 20/40 impacts occupational performance as well as daily activities, especially driving. 2 . Surgery is usually performed on one eye at a time. This is done to minimize potential complications.

Do you need surgery for cataracts?

Not All Cataracts Require Surgery. Remember, cataract treatment involving surgery may not be necessary if your lifestyle is not affected by cataracts, your vision will not improve because of other eye problems, or glasses or contact lenses could significantly improve your vision.

How to treat cataracts?

Drink too much alcohol. Have a family history of cataracts. Have had an eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatment on your upper body. Have spent a lot of time in the sun. Take steroids (medicines used to treat a variety of health problems, like arthritis and rashes)

What is a cataract?

What are cataracts? A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract.

What age do cataracts start?

Around age 40, the proteins in the lens of your eye start to break down and clump together. This clump makes a cloudy area on your lens — or a cataract. Over time, the cataract gets more severe and clouds more of the lens. Learn more about what causes cataracts.

Can you get cataracts in one eye?

You can get cataracts in one eye or both eyes — but they can’t spread from one eye to the other. By age 80, most people either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in the United States.

Is cataract surgery safe?

During cataract surgery, the doctor removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial lens (also called an intraocular lens, or IOL). This surgery is very safe, and 9 out of 10 people who get it can see better afterwards. Talk about your options with your doctor.

Can you change your glasses prescription?

You have to change the prescription for your glasses often. These symptoms can be a sign of other eye problems, too. Be sure to talk to your eye doctor if you have any of these problems. Over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss.

How to get rid of a swollen eye?

Eat healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables — especially dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. Get a dilated eye exam. If you’re age 60 or older, get a dilated eye exam at least once every 2 years.

How to prevent cataracts?

Here are tips for supporting your eye health once you know you have cataracts: 1 Receive a comprehensive eye exam every year once you are over the age of 65. If you are younger, get an exam once every two years. 2 Always protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses and a hat. 3 If you smoke, quit, as it is a risk factor for cataracts. 4 Stay on top of other health problems, particularly diabetes. 5 Make sure your eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions are current.

What is the best way to address vision problems?

Speaking with your regular eye doctor and eye surgeon can help you determine if cataract surgery is the best way to address your vision problems and overall vision goals.

What is the most common procedure performed in the world?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed around the world. Through both traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery, the patient’s natural, now-cloudy lens is removed and replaced by a clear artificial lens. With cataract surgery, lens types and surgery approaches vary.

Can cataract surgery help with vision?

The outcome is clearer vision and an eye free of cataracts. Cataract surgery can help people with cataracts achieve: A clear lens after having a cloudy lens. Clear vision, though they may still require reading glasses. The best possible vision for them without the need of glasses.

Is cataract surgery safe?

Nonsurgical Treatment Options. Although cataract surgery is widely recognized as safe and effective, it does not mean it is the right treatment approach for everyone. Until cataracts inhibit your vision enough that you can no longer do activities that you wish to do, surgery is usually not recommended.

Is there a way to remove cataracts from the eye?

Although cataract surgery is currently the only treatment option for removing cataracts from the eye, scientists are working on nonsurgical alternatives. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst are collaborating with other scientists in order to revolutionize the treatment of cataracts and presbyopia.

Is there a non surgical treatment for cataracts?

Researchers hope to develop a nonsurgical treatment option that is less expensive, more accessible around the world, and poses fewer risks than traditional cataract surgery. A 2015 animal study also investigated nonsurgical treatment approaches to cataracts. It studied the efficacy of eye drops to treat cloudy vision caused by cataracts.

What is the best way to treat cataracts?

When performing traditional cataract surgery, the surgeon uses a scalpel blade to make a small incision on the side of the cornea. The surgeon then inserts an instrument through the incision to create a hole in the lens.

What are the causes of cataracts?

Risk factors include ultraviolet radiation from the sun, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, eye injuries, the use of certain medications, as well as a family history of cataracts.

What is the procedure to replace a cloudy lens?

These sound waves, known as ultrasound, break up the cloudy center of the lens. The surgeon then implants an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to replace the cloudy lens. Laser-assisted cataract surgery involves the use of a camera/ultrasound imaging device that maps the surface of the eye.

Can you treat cataracts without surgery?

Cataract Treatment without Surgery. Some people try anti-inflammatory eye drops, such as Oclumed and Can -C. Castor oil is also another alternative treatment some patients opt to use. Others prefer a more natural approach to cataract treatment.

Does castor oil help with cataracts?

Watch the video below to find out how castor oil can help get rid of cataracts. You can reduce your risk of developing cataracts by making healthier choices in life. If you develop cataracts, though, you can talk to your ophthalmologist about options of cataract treatment without surgery to improve your vision.

What is the function of the lens of the eye?

The lens of the eye sits just behind the iris and pupil. Its job is to focus the light so that the image is as clear as possible when it hits the retina. The lens is made up of mostly protein and water. The way the protein is arranged inside the lens keeps the lens clear and allows light to pass through it easily.

How do cataracts affect the eye?

Cataracts affect the lens of the eye which alters vision quality. Light carries visual information about the objects around us. Light passes into the eye through the pupil, which appears as the black spot in the middle of the eye’s colored iris. The light hits a light-sensitive layer of tissue , known as the retina, at the back of the eye. This retinal tissue converts information from the light into an electrical impulse. Your brain then turns that impulse into the image you see.

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Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Cataracts can be removed completely through surgery.
Procedures

Cataract surgery: Replacing the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens or intraocular lens (IOL).

Nutrition

There are no specific foods proven to help cataract but certain foods can help maintain general eye health.

Foods to eat:

  • Beta - carotene containing foods such as carrots
  • Vitamin C containing foods such as oranges, mangoes, lemons and grapefruit
  • Vitamin A rich foods such as spinach, green vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Ophthalmologist
Specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes.

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