Cataract Removal Surgery Doctors in Wyomissing, PA

By the time you reach age 75, you more than likely will have a cataract significant enough to interfere with your vision. However, cataracts can form at much younger ages. Some of our patients in their forties have already started forming cataracts.

Cataracts are actually a natural part of aging; the condition is not a disease. Cataracts are caused by a natural protein breakdown in the eye. It occurs as we get older, and therefore millions of Americans have cataracts. Surgery is eventually required to correct the problem, and the best cataract removal surgery doctors in the Wyomissing PA area are at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania in nearby Blandon.

Cataract surgery

Cataracts are caused by the eye proteins that break down and stick onto the lens. Because the lens is clouded, light is scattered, instead of focused light, which occurs on a non-cataract lens. Vision is affected because light cannot properly focus, making everyday tasks like reading and watching television difficult.

Cataract surgery is safe and effective. The surgery involves removal of the protein-clouded lens, which is replaced with a lens implant called an intraocular lens (IOL). Surgery may not be necessary at first. In fact, cataracts progress quite slowly, so it can be years before surgery is needed. Annual eye exams are important, and we will monitor cataract growth at these appointments. Our team may make more frequent adjustments to your glasses or contact lens prescription. 

Most of our patients tell us that night driving becomes more difficult when the cataract gets significant and that usually means it is time for surgery at that point.

Cataract stages

There are generally four stages of cataract growth. In the first or beginning stage, the lens is predominantly clear but proteins have started to deposit. In the second stage, an immature cataract forms, meaning the proteins have begun to clump together. Patients report that glare, particularly while driving, becomes an issue at this stage.

In the third stage, a mature cataract forms over most of the lens. The cataract has a milky white appearance and vision has become muted. In the final stage, the mature cataract becomes even more dense, hardening into what we term a hypermature cataract. Vision is significantly impaired and you can likely see the cataract while looking in the mirror. A hypermature cataract is much more difficult to remove surgically, so we recommend surgery when the cataract reaches the mature stage.

About the surgery

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure done in our offices. Our surgeons use a surgical technique called bladeless laser-assisted surgery to create a lens incision. The surgeon then softens and breaks up the cataract before removing it from the eye.

A modern state-of-the-art IOL is then implanted. This can be either a clear lens or a lens that has a vision correction prescription. IOL technology has become very advanced, and nearly any type of vision problem can be corrected. For instance, we routinely correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism during cataract surgery.

Trust your eyes to us

Trust your eyes to the experienced and knowledgeable cataract removal surgery doctors in the Wyomissing PA area. We are in nearby Blandon at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, and our board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons are simply the best. Make your appointment today. We want you to be our next new patient, so give us a call to schedule your cataract consultation today.