Cataract Surgeons Lebanon, PA

If your cataracts are beginning to interfere with vision, you likely need a cataract surgeon. Lebanon PA residents are fortunate to have Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania right here in town. We are close by and our excellent team is here to fulfill all your cataract and eye care needs. By age 75, you may have a cataract in one or both eyes. Let’s explore symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms

Cataracts are age-related and gradually develop over time because proteins in the eye naturally break down and clump on the lens. A cataract can occur in one or both eyes, and at first is not even noticeable. However, as the cataract worsens over time, patients often experience blurred vision, difficulty reading, and difficulty driving at night. You may see halos around oncoming headlights, and colors may appear more muted or faded. Many patients experience increased sensitivity to glare, and some may even have double vision in one eye.

Cataracts can begin forming as early as age 40 and by age 75, most adults have one. However, the cataract will develop slowly over time and many patients don’t even notice symptoms.

Detection, Diagnosis & Treatment

Cataract early detection can be done through a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. An eye exam is the best way to know whether you have a cataract. Our team performs a thorough eye exam and visual acuity test to measure both the clarity and sharpness of your vision. We also will perform a dilated eye exam to offer the doctor a better, clearer view of the back of the eye and eye structures. The doctor will examine the retina and optic nerve. For the cataract exam, the doctor will use an instrument called a slit-lamp microscope to look for signs of cataracts.

Once cataracts are diagnosed, the initial treatment is usually to manage symptoms with prescription glasses or brighter lighting for tasks like reading. However, if the cataracts start to significantly impact vision, cataract surgery may be recommended. During this procedure, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. The procedure itself is done in our state-of-the-art outpatient facility and usually takes less than 30 minutes. We will monitor you for a time afterwards, then have someone drive you home to rest for the remainder of the day.

Prior to the surgery, our eye surgeons may recommend that you have a thorough medical exam from your family doctor, particularly if it has been a while since you’ve had a checkup. This is the best way to ensure you are in optimal health for cataract surgery.

Our Cataract Surgeons

Our surgeons recommend several preventative measures to help delay the onset of cataracts: (1) wearing sunglasses to protect from UV rays, (2) eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants that nourish the eyes, and (3) avoiding smoking.

Regular eye exams also help in detecting cataracts early on, and our surgeons definitely recommend annual eye exams for all of our patients over age 65. If you have certain health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, these conditions can cause eye problems, so we may recommend more frequent eye exams in these cases. Certain medications like corticosteroids can also contribute to and even accelerate cataract development, so if you take these, we may also recommend more frequent exams.

If you suspect you have a cataract, or it has just been a while since your last exam, schedule an appointment with our Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania cataract surgeons in Lebanon PA. We hope to see you soon, and we’ll take great care of you and your eyes.