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Cataracts

When your vision becomes cloudy and less vibrant, cataracts may be the cause. At Huffman & Huffman Eye Care Center, our ophthalmologists provide advanced diagnostic and surgical care for patients experiencing cataract-related vision changes. 

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What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts develop when the normally clear lens of your eye becomes clouded. This can make it seem like you’re looking through a foggy window. 

The clouding occurs when proteins in the lens break down and clump together, which gradually blocks light from properly reaching the retina. Most cataracts develop slowly and painlessly, causing minimal vision changes at first.

However, as they progress, cataracts significantly impact daily activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces. While they most commonly affect older adults, cataracts can also develop due to eye injuries, certain medications, or underlying medical conditions.

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The three primary types of cataracts

Nuclear cataracts

Forming in the center of the lens, these often temporarily improve near vision before worsening

Cortical cataracts

Beginning at the edges of the lens and extending inward like spokes

Posterior subcapsular cataracts

Forming at the back of the lens, these typically progress faster and cause more immediate vision problems

What Are the Most Common Cataract Symptoms?

Identifying cataract symptoms early allows for proper monitoring and timely intervention. The specialists at Huffman & Huffman Eye Care Center are experts in detecting even subtle vision changes that may indicate cataract development.

Common symptoms include:

  • Cloudy, blurred, or dim vision that progressively worsens
  • Increased difficulty with night vision or seeing in low light
  • Sensitivity to light and glare, particularly from headlights when driving at night
  • Seeing “halos” around lights
  • Fading or yellowing of colors
  • Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
  • Double vision in one eye
Simulated Vision with Halos
Simulated Yellow Vision
Simulated Double Vision

How Do I Know When I Need Cataract Surgery?

Determining the right time for cataract surgery involves careful consideration of how vision changes affect your daily life. Surgery becomes necessary when:

Vision impairment interferes with everyday activities like reading, driving, or watching television

Cataracts prevent effective treatment of other eye conditions

Visual acuity cannot be sufficiently improved with glasses or contact lenses

The cataract interferes with the accurate assessment of other eye problems

Huffman & Huffman Eye Care Center provides thorough pre-surgical evaluations that precisely measure how cataracts are affecting your visual function, ensuring surgery is recommended at the optimal time for each individual patient.

While cataracts themselves are not harmful to eye health, the vision impairment they cause can significantly impact quality of life and safety. Regular eye examinations become increasingly important after age 60 to monitor for cataract development and progression.

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Are you a candidate for cataract surgery?

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The Cataract Surgery Procedure

Cataract surgery has evolved into one of the most successful and commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. At Huffman & Huffman Eye Care Center, our surgeons specialize in the most advanced techniques that produce the best results while also minimizing recovery time.

Before you undergo cataract surgery, either during your consultation or at a pre-operative appointment, your eye will be thoroughly measured to determine the appropriate lens power of your new IOLs. Your surgeon will discuss any medications that you may need to stop temporarily and provide instructions for before and after the procedure.

Modern cataract surgery typically takes less than 30 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis. Here is what to expect:

Your cataract surgeon will apply a few drops of a topical anesthetic eye drops to ensure that you’re comfortable

They will then create a tiny incision in the cornea

Next, they will use instruments to break the clouded lens into small pieces

The lens fragments will be gently removed

Your cataract surgeon will place a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL) in the same position as your natural lens

The self-sealing micro-incision will close on its own during your recovery, typically without requiring stitches

The precise surgical approach is customized for each patient’s unique eye anatomy and cataract density.

Learn More About What to Expect from Cataract Surgery

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Ready to schedule your visit?

If you’re experiencing vision changes that might indicate cataracts, scheduling a comprehensive evaluation is the first step toward clearer vision. Schedule an appointment at Huffman & Huffman Eye Care Center to get on the path to clearer vision.

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