Cataract Center
- What are Cataracts?
- Can I Prevent Cataracts?
- Do I have Cataracts?
- Am I a Candidate for Cataract Surgery?
- What are the risks and benefits of Cataract Surgery?
- What can I expect on my surgery day?
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye’s natural lens. The clouding interferes with light passing through the eye to the retina. Aging and other factors cause proteins in the eye’s lens to clump together forming these cloudy areas. Early changes may not disturb vision, but over time cataracts typically result in blurred or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to light. People with progressed cataracts often say they feel as if they’re looking through a waterfall or a piece of wax paper.
A hypermature age-related cortico-nuclear cataract with a brunescent (brown) nucleus.
A scene as it might be viewed by a person with normal vision compared to a person with cataracts.
Unfortunately, there is no available medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, the only one way to achieve clear vision again is through cataract surgery. Common causes of cataracts include:
- Age
- Eye trauma
- Heredity
- Diabetes
- Some medications including long-term use of oral steroids
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Smoking
- Glaucoma
- Certain metabolic conditions
Over fifty percent of people over the age of 60, and many younger than that, suffer from cataracts. The physicians of Cullom Eye & Laser Center can determine if changes in your vision are due to the development of cataracts through a consultation and a contrast sensitivity test. If you’re interested in scheduling a cataract consultation, please call (757) 345-3001.
Common symptoms of cataracts are:
- Decreasing vision with age
- Blurred or double vision
- Seeing halos around bright lights
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Vision that worsens in sunlight
- Difficulty distinguishing colors
- Poor depth perception
- Frequent prescription changes for glasses
- Difficulty reading
Am I a Candidate for Cataract Surgery?
Cataract Surgery is a life-changing procedure that can help you reclaim your vision that was once hindered by cataracts. If you believe that your quality of life has become impaired by poor vision and you have been diagnosed with cataracts, you are likely a candidate for cataract surgery! If you’re interested in scheduling a cataract consultation with a Cullom Eye & Laser Center Physician, please call (757) 345-3001.
What are the risks and benefits of Cataract Surgery?
In your parents’ or grandparents’ day, cataract surgery was considered risky, required a lengthy hospital stay and was usually postponed for as long as possible. Today, cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes. It is now one of the most common and successful medical procedures performed. In fact, following cataract surgery, many patients experience vision that is better than what they had before they developed cataracts. See what cataract patients have to say about their cataract surgery by viewing our patient testimonials in the video screen above.
Serious complications from cataract surgery are extremely rare. It is a safe, effective and permanent procedure, but like any surgical procedure, it does have some risks. Having the procedure performed by an Ophthalmologist who is experienced with the procedure can significantly minimize the risks involved with cataract surgery. Dr. R. Douglas Cullom has successfully performed over 10,000cataract surgeries in his career.
What can I expect on my surgery day?
You will arrive at the Doctor’s Surgery Center of Williamsburg about an hour prior to your procedure. The staff of the Doctor’s Surgery Center will then prepare your eyes for surgery through the use of eye drops, topical anesthesia and sterile dressings. It will take approximately one hour to fully prepare your eyes for surgery.
Once your eye is prepared for the procedure, you will be placed on a stretcher and moved into the procedure room. At this point, the anesthesiologist will administer a mild dose of general anesthesia, which will create a “twilight sedation”. This sedation is designed to help you feel more comfortable and to minimize pain associated with the procedure.
Dr. R. Douglas Cullom will then perform the cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. This procedure will take approximately eight minutes. Once the cataract is removed, and the lens is implanted, you will move from the stretcher to a wheelchair to leave the procedure room.
After the surgery, you will not be required to wear an eye patch, but you will need to wear sunglasses. If you have a pair of sunglasses that you would like to wear, please bring them with you, if not, we will provide a pair for you on the day of surgery.
We look forward to the opportunity to improve your vision through this life-changing surgery! If you have any questions about your upcoming cataract surgery, please contact our Cataract Surgery Coordinator at (757) 345-3001.
