Best Cataract Surgeons Southwest Florida
There are many excellent cataract surgeons in Southwest Florida. As you evaluate your options, we encourage you to consider one of the best, Yasaira Rodriguez, MD at Elmquist Eye Group in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.
Dr. Rodriguez, an experienced cataract surgeon, along with 
Kate Wagner, OD and Nina Burt, OD, provide complete eye care services in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida for everyone in the family, from children to seniors.
What Causes Cataracts?
The most common cause of cataracts is aging, but there are other causes. A traumatic cataract can result from an injury to the eye. Cataracts may also be caused by some medications, such as prednisone and corticosteroids, and by certain diseases, such as diabetes. And, although uncommon, it is possible for babies to be born with cataracts or develop them during their first year of life.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over 24.5 million Americans aged 40 and older are affected by cataracts. And by the year 2050, it is estimated that 50 million Americans will have them.
Cataract Symptoms
It’s quite possible that you may not even realize you have a cataract because they usually develop slowly. It may take many years to notice the changes in your vision, but the symptoms include:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Difficulty reading
- Poor night vision
- Sensitivity to light, glare, and halos around lights
- Frequent changes in glasses or contacts prescriptions
- Double vision in one eye
- Colors look faded or yellowed
The first evidence of cataracts is usually discovered during an eye exam. A cataract examination is very much like a general eye exam, but your eye doctor will dilate your pupils to thoroughly examine your eyes. He or she will also do a few extra tests, such as visual acuity and glare testing, to determine the severity of the cataract.
If cataracts are beginning to form, it’s important to make sure your glasses or contact lenses are strong enough to compensate for your impaired vision. As your cataracts develop further, you can discuss with Dr. Elmquist whether surgery would be beneficial.
Cataract Treatment
Cataracts worsen slowly over time, but you may eventually decide to have cataract surgery to correct the problem. The cataract, or cloudy lens of the eye, is replaced with an artificial plastic lens, called an intraocular lens or “IOL.”
Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed in the U.S. today, with a success rate that exceeds 95%. The procedure is quick, most patients experience little or no discomfort, and clear vision is usually restored within a few days.
Elmquist Eye Group offers bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery, a procedure that is designed to make the treatment more precise, safer and more accurate. Of course, there are risks with any type of surgery, and they should be discussed with Dr. Elmquist before surgery.
The cataract surgeons at Elmquist Eye Group are among the best qualified in Southwest Florida. For answers to your questions, get in touch with us today at (239) 936-2020 and schedule an appointment. The Elmquist team will be delighted to help.