Houston Cataract Surgery Center Brings Attention to Cataract Awareness Month

As National Cataract Awareness Month wraps up, we’re here to bring you the latest information on cataract care.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is simply a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. This lens rests behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. A healthy lens is transparent, but a cataract means the lens has become cloudy, which can obstruct the passage of light.

Cataracts are usually a result of aging and most progress slowly – meaning the clouding increases over months to years. Cataracts may occur in one or both eyes, and each may develop at a different rate, causing vision to vary from eye to eye.

Symptoms

As the cataract develops, you will notice gradual changes in vision. Initial symptoms may include difficulty seeing or driving at night, halos around bright light or sunlight, difficulty with reading or close-up work, decreased depth perception, blurred or double vision, and difficulty distinguishing colors.

Treatments

Once cataracts form, the only way to achieve clear vision again is through cataract surgery, in which the cloudy lens will be surgically removed and replaced with a new, clear, artificial one, called an intraocular lens, or IOL.

This modern form of lens replacement is one of the safest and most effective procedures performed today, and can restore normal vision for most patients. It is not unusual for our patients to enjoy dramatically improved vision within hours of their procedure.

Click here for more information on cataracts. Or if you suspect you may have a cataract, call 713-526-1600 or schedule an appointment at one of our 15 locations.