Cataract Doctor in Fort Myers
If you live in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, or elsewhere in Lee County, the experienced eye doctors at Elmquist Eye Group can help you find out if your vision problems may be related to a cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or a different condition.
Trevor Elmquist, DO, is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been selected as one of America’s Top Doctors in ophthalmology by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. He has been providing exceptional eye care to the residents of Southwest Florida for over 25 years.
Dr. Elmquist and his partner, Kate Wagner, OD, and associate, Nina Burt, OD, both board certified optometrists, provide an extensive range of services, from eye exams to the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, dry eyes, glaucoma, presbyopia, myopia, hyperopia and other eye conditions.
Think You May Have a Cataract?
If you have trouble reading, seeing in the distance, or difficulty with night vision, you may have a cataract. Other symptoms include:
- Cloudy, blurred or dim vision
- More difficulty seeing at night or in low light
- Sensitivity to light
- Halos and glare from lights
- Colors look faded or yellowed
- Needing brighter light for reading and other activities
- Frequent eyeglass prescription changes
- Double vision in one eye
If you do have a cataract, you are definitely not alone. Cataracts are an inevitable part of the aging process, and over half of all Americans aged 65 and older have at least one. They can take years to fully form and, if left untreated, can result in blindness. But modern cataract surgery can improve your vision to what it was before cataracts.
Cataract Treatment
Surgery is the only way your ophthalmologist can remove a cataract. However, if your symptoms are mild and the cataract has not progressed, changing your eyeglass prescription may be all it takes for you to function comfortably until your vision gets worse.
If the cataract is causing enough vision impairment to interfere with your daily activities, then it could be time to have the cataract removed. Dr. Elmquist will help you decide when the time is right to consider cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery involves removal of the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens, called an intraocular lens or IOL. The eye is gently numbed so that you won’t feel any discomfort. Then tiny incisions are made on the cornea to reach the cloudy lens and carefully break it apart. The cataract is removed using gentle suction, and an artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL) is inserted.
Elmquist Eye Group now offers bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery which is designed to improve the precision, safety and accuracy of cataract surgery.  The FDA-approved laser automates three steps of the surgery that previously had to be done manually.
Next Steps
A thorough eye examination can detect the presence and extent of a cataract, as well as any other conditions that may be causing blurred vision or other symptoms you may have experienced.
A cataract examination is very much like a general eye exam, but your eye doctor will dilate your pupils to 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.
Make an appointment for an eye exam with a doctor at Elmquist Eye Group in Fort Myers or Cape Coral to find out if you have a cataract and learn about the latest options in cataract treatment and lens technology. Call us today at (239) 936-2020 to get started on the road to good vision.