Cataracts are extremely common in the United States, affecting over 24.4 million adults past the age of 40, according to Prevent Blindness America. In the US, cataracts were once considered the leading cause of vision loss, but with modern medical technology, treatment options are broader than ever.
Still, many people don’t have a full understanding of cataracts, especially concerning what cataract surgery actually entails. It may come time to deal with cataracts for yourself or for a loved one, and The Eye Associates wants to ensure that you have everything you need to make an informed decision about the future of your eyes and your vision.
Everything You Need to Know
Having one or more cataracts — clouding of the ocular lens — is extremely common, especially as you age. By the age of 65, around 90% of people will have at least one cataract. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a cataract will cause vision loss, but this is a possibility, and the only way to restore vision in these cases is through a surgical replacement of the lens.
Your cloudy, damaged lens is replaced with a new one, called an intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure itself is simple, but the amount of cutting-edge IOLs on the market have made the choice more and more difficult.
These devices are used to replace lenses clouded by cataracts and restore vision to millions of Americans every year, and if you’ve done any research on them, you’ve likely heard these words: Accommodative vs. Conventional, Multifocal vs. Monofocal, and Standard vs. Premium.
The question is, what do these terms mean, and how can you identify which one is right for you?
