Top Cataract Specialists in Cape Coral
If you are experiencing the onset of cataracts, your vision and quality of life may have deteriorated. Fortunately, the top cataract specialists are available at Elmquist Eye Group in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.
Elmquist Eye Group has provided exceptional eye care to the residents of Southwest Florida for more than 25 years.
Yasaira Rodriguez, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon who specializes in LASIK, premium cataract surgery and eyelid surgery.
How Cataracts Occur
A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens of your eye gets cloudy. Most of the time, the condition develops in older individuals, but according to the National Eye Institute, more than 24.5 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by them. By the age of 80, more than 50% of Americans have cataracts or have had cataract surgery to remove them. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes but do not spread from one eye to the other.
While most cataracts are age-related, cataracts also occur in babies or young children (called congenital cataracts). And they can be caused by a traumatic eye injury, by excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, by the use of certain medications, including prednisone and corticosteroids, and by certain diseases, such as diabetes.
Do You Think You May 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.
Cataract Surgery Overview
Cataract surgery today is more advanced than ever, and can produce excellent results. Elmquist Eye Group will evaluate your eyes to determine the severity of your cataracts, discuss the treatment options with you, and help you decide when the time is right to consider cataract surgery.
During cataract surgery, your surgeon will gently numb your eye so that you won’t feel discomfort and use ultrasound vibrations to break up the cloudy lens. The fragments of the cataract are then removed using gentle suction, and the artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL) you have selected is inserted.
The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes, and most patients notice an immediate improvement in their vision. For some, it may take a short time to adjust to halos and glare around lights, but this usually goes away over time.
Elmquist Eye Group is among a limited number of practices to offer bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery with the FDA-approved LenSx® femtosecond laser. The laser automates three steps of the surgery that previously had to be done manually and improves the overall precision, safety and accuracy of the surgery.
Contact Elmquist Eye Group today at (239) 936-2020 to speak with the top cataract specialists in Cape Coral. We are proud to be leaders in bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery and can help you decide which procedure may be the best choice for you.