Cataracts eventually happen to nearly everyone, particularly after age 65. As our eyes get older, cataracts form gradually, and after age 65, 9 out of 10 Americans do have a cataract in one or both eyes. Outpatient cataract surgery is the only way to repair a cataract, so if you’re in South Florida and in need of cataract surgery, look no further than the expert surgeons at Elmquist Eye Group.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataracts form as a natural part of aging. Proteins in the eye break down and clump on the lens to cloud vision. By age 65, you may be noticing blurred vision or muted colors. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded, cataract lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant. We can use a new clear lens or we can use a lens to provide near or distance vision correction. Lens technology is so advanced these days that we can even implant multifocal lenses that act just like bifocals, and even toric lenses to correct astigmatism. This means we correct your cataract and your vision at the same time. Who could ask for more?
Cataract surgery is an opportunity to correct your cataract and your vision. It is a short, outpatient procedure and there is little to no discomfort during the operation.
Is cataract surgery safe?
There is a plethora of scientific published literature establishing cataract surgery as one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today. Most of our patients say two things after surgery: (1) it was much easier than they expected and (2) they wish they had done it sooner.
There are continued advancements in surgical techniques, therefore cataract surgery has continued to evolve into a safer, more effective surgery. Our Elmquist surgeons are highly trained to surgically implant lenses that correct a wide variety of vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness and even astigmatism, even correcting for high refractive error.
Our Elmquist cataract surgeons
It is important to know that we usually see the first evidence of cataracts during your annual eye examination. We add cataract evaluation techniques to the general eye exam, amounting to a few additional tests to determine whether you have a cataract, how far the cataract has progressed, and whether surgery is a viable option. If we see evidence of a cataract, we’ll have a discussion with you about any vision problems you may be experiencing, such as trouble seeing under low lighting conditions or in glare, problems with night driving and so on.
Our surgeons are licensed board-certified ophthalmologists who have additional training like fellowships from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. They have all served in the military where they gained valuable experience in hospitals and trauma centers.
If you suspect that you have a cataract, give Elmquist Eye Group a call today to schedule an appointment. We perform cataract surgery in South Florida at our convenient Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations, and we are ready for you to be our next new patient.