What is a Cataract?

Cataracts are common, almost 90% of people over the age of 65 have a cataract. From her Richmond office, Dr. Pradhan sees many patients with mild, moderate and severe cataracts and is an expert in cataract surgery. The objective of cataract surgery is lens replacement surgery, taking out your cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear implant, which then improves a patient’s vision.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. The cornea and the lens focus the light onto your retina which is how you see the world. When the lens becomes cloudy, the light doesn’t get your retina as well causing your vision to become cloudy. Cataracts can also cause your vision to seem darker with decreased color and contrast vision. Cataracts also cause glare, especially when driving at night, as the light is not focused properly by your cloudy lens. Other symptoms of cataracts include having trouble watching television, driving, reading, or any other of your favorite activities. If your daily activities are affected by your vision, it may be time to visit our Richmond eye specialist, Dr. Pradhan.

How Are Cataracts Treated?

The only way we have to treat cataracts at this time is surgery. An eye surgeon, like Dr. Pradhan, can operate and remove the cloudy lens, replacing it with a clear implant measured to your eye. Once our eye specialist is finished with the operation, the light will again be focused on your retina and you should be able to see more clearly (if your cornea and retina are normal).

For our cataract surgery patients, we offer different types of lens implants at our Richmond ophthalmology practice, including the standard monofocal lens, the Toric astigmatism-correcting-lens and multifocal lens implants which can provide good vision at multiple distances. To determine which cataract lens implant will be right for you, a complete dilated eye exam and in-office testing will help Dr. Pradhan decide which lens is the right lens implant for your eyes.

What are the Benefits and Risks of Cataract Surgery?

The benefit of cataract surgery is to restore your vision to what it would be with a clear lens. Learn more about Intraocular Lens Options with Cataract Surgery

The risks of cataract surgery are low but include the risks of anesthesia, bleeding, infection, glaucoma, retinal detachment, the need for a second surgery, pain, blindness and loss of the eye.

My Vision is Cloudy But I Have Already Had Cataract Surgery. Can My Cataract Come Back?

Cataracts do not come back. Sometimes months or even years after surgery, you can have a clouding or scarring of the capsule behind your lens implant which can blur your vision like the cataract did prior to surgery. This can be treated with a brief laser procedure. If you have already had cataract surgery and your vision is cloudy, this could be the cause.

Come in And Meet Dr. Pradhan For A Complete Evaluation Of Your Eyes.

If you are noticing a decrease in your vision including blurring, an inability to see in dim light, or halos around light, make an appointment with Dr. Pradhan at her ophthalmology practice in Glen Allen. Dr. Pradhan will perform a complete evaluation of your eyes and recommend the next steps in treatment to help restore your vision. Contact Eye Doctor MD today and start your journey to better, clearer vision.