Great Vision Is Ageless: An Eye-Opener About Cataracts & Cataract Surgery

There’s no reason to live behind the fog of cataracts. It’s one of the most common age-related eye conditions, affecting 2.5 million Canadians every year. Many are unaware that only way to restore vision loss due to cataracts is through surgery.

Here, we break down what you need to know about the procedure, recovery and innovative intraocular lens options to help you see clearly for years to come.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens

The lens in your eye is made of mostly water and protein. When protein clumps together, it starts to cloud part of the lens. Cataracts can cause blurry vision, dimmed colours, trouble seeing at night, light sensitivity, seeing halos around objects, and double vision.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness

Dr. Raj Rathee, chair of Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and head of ophthalmology at North York General Hospital highlights the importance of seeking treatment. “Waiting too long and suffering with poor vision puts people at higher risk of falls, accidents, and difficulty driving — not to mention day-to-day tasks become harder to perform.”

It’s normal to feel nervous

A recent survey commissioned by Alcon Canada revealed that fear is often a barrier to cataract surgery, with nearly 50 per cent of respondents feeling nervous about it. Yet, cataract surgery is very common and safe. More than 15 million cataract surgeries are performed worldwide each year. In North America alone, more than 4 million people every year have the surgery.

Cataract surgery takes less than an hour and recovery is quick

The procedure is performed in an out-patient clinic, using a topical anesthetic to numb the eye and minimize discomfort. Most patients resume day-to-day activities within a few days following surgery and most are fully recovered within a few weeks. “Patients see clearer, better than they have in years — in some cases, since they were very young. says Dr. Rathee.

Speak with your eye care professional about your lens options

Understanding the different intraocular lens options will help you make an informed decision.

Basic monofocal lenses provide better vision at one distance (typically far distances) but won’t fix problems like astigmatism (an irregular curvature of the eye surface causing blurry vision) or presbyopia (the gradual loss of your eye’s ability to focus on objects nearby).

Alcon PanOptix^® trifocal intraocular lenses are a viable solution for people with presbyopia undergoing cataract surgery. They provide superior visual performance for all distances so you can get back to your normal activities and enjoy life to the fullest without blurry vision.

See the Full Picture

If you are considering cataract surgery, speak with your eye care professional about your post-surgery vision goals or visit SeeTheFullPicture.ca