Dottie noticed changes in her vision when she found herself constantly cleaning her glasses, “I thought there was something wrong with the glasses but later found out that it was the cataract.”
Dottie’s changes in her vision were gradual and she didn’t realize how bad the cataract had affected her vision. “It gradually comes on and you don’t realize the change in your vision.”
It wasn’t until a trip to the grocery store did she realize it was time to do something about her cataract. “On the way home it was getting dark and as I was looking for the white line in the road and it wasn’t there and that scared me,” adds Dottie.
What is cataract?
“A cataract is when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy and you have difficulty seeing through the cloudy lens,” explains Dr. Paul Griffey, ophthalmologist with Griffey Eye Care & Laser Center.
Symptoms of cataract include:
- Difficulty reading small print
- Difficulty seeing distances
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Poor night vision
- Glare from headlights and lamps
According to Dr. Griffey cataracts are something everyone will get eventually. Typically, surgery is needed between the ages of 65 and 75, but it can happen sooner if symptoms due to cataracts interfere with someone’s daily life.
Cataract surgery is a quick and easy procedure with a short recovery time. It is done on an outpatient basis which means patients go home the same day of the surgery. Most patients notice an immediate improvement in their vision.
“During cataract surgery, we physically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens implant,” explains Dr. Griffey. “The lens implants have prescription power built in them. It’s like having your glasses built into your eye.”
“The surgery was over in no time flat. It was remarkable,” says Dottie. “I didn’t have any pain and I was really surprised. Two weeks later I had the other cataract removed and when I did, my vision was amazing! You can’t believe the difference of what you’re not seeing. It was fantastic!”
For more information or to make an appointment at Griffey Eye Care and Laser Center, call (757) 410-9500.
