Cataract Surgeon in Cape Coral
Cataracts are the most common cause of blurred vision in people over the age of 50 in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and across the U.S. Although there is no medication or special diet that can cure them, a cataract surgeon can surgically remove them, replace them with a permanent artificial lens implant, and restore your lost vision.
Elmquist Eye Group has been serving Southwest Florida for more than 20 years. E. Trevor Elmquist, DO, his partner, Kate Wagner, OD, and his associate, Nina Burt, OD, provide a full range of eye care services, including comprehensive eye exams and diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, dry eyes, glaucoma, presbyopia, myopia, hyperopia and other eye conditions.
Dr. Elmquist is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He specializes in general ophthalmology and cataract surgery. He has been selected as one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. based on nominations from other physicians.
Do You Have a Cataract?
If you have trouble reading, seeing in the distance, or difficulty when driving at night, you may have a cataract. Cataracts are an inevitable part of the aging process, but many people don’t even realize they have one until it is discovered during a routine eye examination.
Although most cataracts are related to aging, you don’t have to be a senior citizen to get one. People can have an age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s, but they are usually small and do not affect vision. It is after the age of 60 that cataracts are most responsible for diminished vision.
How the Eye Works
Our eyes work very much like a camera. Light passes through the cornea (the “window” of the eye) and through the pupil, on its way to the retina. Immediately behind the pupil is the normally clear natural lens. Similar to the way a camera lens focuses images onto film at the back of the camera, the human lens focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, which forms an image that is relayed to the brain along the optic nerve.
If you get too many fingerprints on your camera lens, your photos will look blurry. When a cataract causes the lens inside your eye to become cloudy, it will cause blurred vision. Although the changes may be barely noticeable at first, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
When Should Cataracts Be Removed?
Cataracts can develop in one eye or both eyes, but they do not spread from one eye to the other. If Dr. Elmquist determines that a cataract is the cause of your vision problems, nothing needs to be done until you feel that it is affecting the quality of your life.
As the cataract worsens and activities like driving, reading and working on the computer become more difficult, you may decide it’s time to have it surgically removed. You are never too old to have cataract surgery!
Cataracts can only be treated with surgery to replace the clouded lens of the eye. The natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens with little to no discomfort, and vision is usually restored within days.
Although all surgeries have risks, cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed in the U.S. today. And Elmquist Eye Group now offers bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery which is designed to make the procedure even more precise, safe and accurate.
Call Elmquist Eye Group at (239) 936-2020 to learn about cataract treatment options in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and throughout Lee County. As an experienced cataract surgeon, Dr. Elmquist can examine your eyes and help you decide if the time is right for improving your vision.