Herzig Eye Institute

Cataracts

More than half of all North Americans will have had a cataract by the age of 80.

You've come to the right place. Our goal is to provide you with key information to help you make an educated decision about your options for cataract treatment.

Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in North America.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

In the early stages, you might not even be aware that you are developing a cataract. Cataracts start out with mild clouding of the lens and get cloudier over time. As the cataract gets denser, it blocks much of the light to your retina, making it difficult to see.

Some common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Seeing halos around lights
• Problems with glare
• Frequent changes in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Seeing double or multiple images in the eye or eyes with the cataract

Who Is At Risk?

Since aging is a fact of life, everyone is at risk for developing cataracts. By the time you reach 60, you will probably have some degree of clouding, although your vision may not be impaired.

Factors that may accelerate the development of cataracts:

• Family history of cataracts at a young age
• Diabetes
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays
• Exposure to radiation, such as cancer therapy
• Smoking
• Previous eye injury or surgery

Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes, but do not spread from one eye to the other. Surgery to remove a cataract is not necessary until vision becomes impaired, or if the cataract interferes with the treatment of other eye problems. We want our patients to be informed about the nature of cataracts and how they form.

Cataract Treatment Options

Previously, the only option was to remove the cataract and provide the patient with extremely powerful eyeglasses. OHIP now provides every patient with surgery and a basic implantable replacement lens. It is a standard treatment for cataracts. However, at the Herzig Eye Institute, we also offer you the option of our Advanced Technology Cataract Treatments.

The bottom line is that cataracts are a vision problem that nearly all of us will face. If you are concerned that you or someone important to you may have cataracts, ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist for a referral to the Herzig Eye Institute. If you prefer, simply contact us for a consultation. We'll examine your eyes and make a recommendation for your best course of action.