What are Cataracts?

Cataract: A "clouding" of the lens in your eye. Light passing through a cataractous lens becomes scattered, resulting in blurred or defocused vision.

Contrary to popular belief, a cataract is not a"film" over the eye. Rather, it is a gradual thickening and clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens. As we age, proteins clump together and begin to cloud a small area of the lens. Over time, the cataract may grow larger, clouding more of the lens, making vision more and more difficult. Eventually, the lens becomes so clouded that light is either distorted or cannot reach the back of the eye (the retina) for transmission to the brain.

A cataract can progress very slowly. In some cases, the lens will simply thicken without clouding, causing only mild decrease in vision. In these early stages, symptoms can often be addressed with stronger glasses or contact lenses, brighter lighting, or by using a magnifying glass. But once a cataract has formed, nothing can stop or reverse the process. The only way to completely restore lost vision is through surgical removal of the clouded lens. When vision loss progresses to the point where it affects your daily life and/or safety, lens removal surgery will likely be necessary.

In situations where a cataract is in combination with one or more diseases or conditions, or is interfering with the examination or treatment of other parts of your eye, your doctor may recommend surgery, even if your vision is only mildly impaired. When a cataract is the only disease present, surgery is usually very successful. In fact, millions of people in the U.S. undergo this vision-saving procedure each year. For those with cataracts in both eyes, operating on the eye with the poorer vision first is usually recommended. The second procedure will be completed after the first eye has healed.

With other diseases or conditions, the eye care professional usually dictates when surgery or treatments are necessary. But cataract surgery is a decision made by both patient and physician. Because only you know how much your cataract interferes with your quality of life.

What are the Options?

Cataract surgery is a procedure where a surgeon removes the patient’s clouded natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The entire procedure is done on an outpatient basis and typically lasts less than 15-20 minutes. Patients should experience little to no pain and return to their normal activities the following day.

Cataract surgery is not LASIK, a type of laser surgery in which the cornea is reshaped to improve vision. Cataract surgery actually replaces the lens of the eye with a new, artificial lens.

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Cataract & Premium Implants

The Eye Center of Columbus is located in the Arena District of downtown Columbus.

Call: 800-964-9969

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What are Cataracts?

Cataract: A "clouding" of the lens in your eye. Light passing through a cataractous lens becomes scattered, resulting in blurred or defocused vision.

What are the Options?

Schedule Your Consultation

Cataract & Premium Implants

The Eye Center

For Premium Cataract Surgery and Dry Eye Center of Excellence:

Call: