By Dr. Neda Shamie<\/p>\nA<\/span>s we grow older, many people choose to implement healthy habits and lifestyle choices to support their aging journey. Our focus often centers on memory and mobility as indicators of our overall health\u2014and for good reason. The longer we can preserve our memory and mobility, the better quality of life we have as we age, so why not opt for a healthy lifestyle?<\/p>\n But, as an eye care provider, there is one thing I\u2019d like to urge you not to put on the back burner\u2014your vision.<\/p>\n Many people over age 50 experience some decline in their vision. For example, it\u2019s very common to begin to need reading glasses as you get older, but if you start to see more changes, like dulling of color, or if you are having trouble driving at night\u2014it could be cataracts, and it\u2019s time to see your eye doctor.<\/p>\n In our 40s, the proteins in the lens of our eyes start to break down and lose their normal structure. These clumps form clouding, known as cataracts. Vision, in turn, becomes blurry or cloudy, colors may look faded, you may experience poor night vision, see halos around lights, and have trouble reading.<\/p>\n Everyone who lives long enough will get cataracts. Still, diabetes, smoking, spending a lot of time in the sun, and anti-inflammatory steroids can put you at a higher risk of developing them at a younger age.<\/p>\n Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure on Earth, with nearly 30 million cataract surgeries completed every year. And the surgery can be transformative for people. During the surgery, when we replace the eye\u2019s cloudy lens with a clear lens known as an intraocular lens (IOL), patients not only regain corrected vision but often experience the vision of someone younger.<\/p>\n If this cataract information is news to you, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n A recent survey by Alcon, a global eye care company, set out to evaluate vision and cataract insights among the world\u2019s rapidly aging population. The Alcon Eye On Cataract Survey results revealed that although cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery, misconceptions about the procedure, including symptoms and outcomes, still exist.\nOnly about half of those surveyed over the age of 50 know that cataract surgery involves implanting a permanent lens into the eye or that there are several different types of lens options to fit their unique needs. Many people aren\u2019t aware that cataract surgery is not painful.<\/p>\n The results reveal that much more dialogue about vision between doctors, patients, and caregivers is necessary to ensure that patients receive all the information they need to make informed decisions.<\/p>\n In my experience, when cataract patients have all the information they need before their evaluation by an eye doctor, they can take a far more proactive role in choosing the right IOL that fits their unique individual lifestyle needs.<\/p>\n At my practice, we perform more than 1,500 cataract surgeries per year. The surgery is a very simple outpatient procedure that takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. Even more exciting, there are several lens options to choose from, including standard monofocal IOLs (covered by Medicare), toric IOLs, extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOLs, and trifocal IOLs.<\/p>\n Monofocal IOLs are the basic cataract replacement intraocular lens, which correct distance vision only and can eliminate the need for distance vision glasses if you do not have any astigmatism. However, you will likely still need reading glasses and also glasses for intermediate vision (reading a computer screen). If you have astigmatism, you will likely need glasses at all distances, or you\u2019ll need to consider a toric IOL to correct your astigmatism.<\/p>\n Vivity\u00ae and Vivity toric are EDOF IOLs that allow you to see clearly at far distances and intermediate (reading a GPS screen while driving) while still providing functional near vision. These lenses reduce most dependence on glasses, although readers may still be needed.<\/p>\n PanOptix\u00ae and PanOptix toric are trifocal IOLs that offer the possibility of 20\/20 vision at far distance, intermediate and near post-surgery, potentially eliminating all glasses-wear, including readers.<\/p>\n In my experience, surgery can be life-changing for patients, and many of my patients cannot believe they can see better than when they were much younger. The Alcon Eye on Cataract Survey found that cataract surgery not only improves vision but also can help turn back the clock for patients\u2019 vision, with almost half (45%) of post-surgery patients reporting they have the vision of someone younger.<\/p>\n One of the best parts of my job is seeing the relief in my patient\u2019s eyes when they realize the benefits of an IOL go beyond just fixing their cataracts. According to the survey, cataract surgery can tangibly improve their lives, with 3 in 4 (71%) of patients reporting they have an improvement in quality of life post-surgery.<\/p>\n Medicare will cover cataract surgery through Medicare Part B if traditional surgical techniques are used during the procedure. This includes removing the cataract and implanting a standard monofocal IOL. Choosing an advanced technology lens like a toric, EDOF or trifocal lens will require an out-of-pocket cost, which is a consideration for patients. Many of my patients choose an advanced technology lens to get more freedom from glasses, which they feel is worth the money.\nWhat to Expect from Surgery<\/p>\n As previously mentioned, the surgery is a quick, outpatient procedure\u2014meaning I can send my patients home directly after the procedure to begin their recovery. Patients generally experience a quick recovery with minimal downtime, and many can return to their work as early as the next day.<\/p>\n It is normal for the cornea, the clear part of the front of the eye, to experience temporary swelling\u2014especially for patients with large and dense cataracts. Patients may also temporarily experience blurry or unclear vision.<\/p>\n I recommend that my patients use eye drops for a few weeks after the surgery to help the eye heal, treat any inflammation, and prevent infection.<\/p>\n On the first day after surgery, the pupil might still be slightly dilated, so I let my patients know that they may not see immediate results. But in most cases, patients will see a significant improvement the very next day and are typically able to drive to their one-day visit.<\/p>\n Some patients may also experience varying degrees of glare, halos, or shadows after surgery. However, these tend to be temporary as well\u2014as the eye is healing and the brain is adapting to the new optical system.<\/p>\n However, no two eyes are the same, so before surgery, ask your ophthalmologist about your individual level of risk, potential side effects, and treatment options for potential complications.<\/p>\n The most common feedback I hear from patients is that they regret having put off the surgery due to their anxiety, as the experience was far easier than they had ever expected.<\/p>\n As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and benefits, so consult with your surgeon ahead of time.<\/p>\n Incorporating Vision into Healthy Lifestyles<\/p>\n Proactivity is key to a healthy lifestyle. If you have questions about cataracts or if you have started developing symptoms, eye care providers are the most trusted resource for finding out more about cataracts and how you can help turn back the clock on your vision.<\/p>\n For more information about cataracts, where to find a surgeon and available lens options, visit MyCataracts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n What you need to know about cataract surgery<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[176,177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2023","category-fall-2023-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14132"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14455,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14132\/revisions\/14455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Are Cataracts?<\/h3>\n
The Promise of Cataract Surgery<\/h3>\n
Filling the Knowledge Gaps<\/h3>\n
Different Options Offer Different Vision<\/h3>\n
Choosing the Right IOL<\/h3>\n
Dr. Neda Shamie<\/a> is a cataract, LASIK, and corneal surgeon and partner of the Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute<\/a> in Los Angeles. She previously was the Medical Director of the Doheny Eye Institute in Beverly Hills, is currently an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine<\/a>, and is an Alcon<\/a> consultant.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"