It May Be Time for Cataract Surgery

The signs of cataracts — fuzzy vision, difficulty reading, and fading colors — can inhibit the quality of your day-to-day life. Many patients cope with these symptoms far longer than necessary, incorrectly assuming they aren't eligible for cataract surgery until they reach a certain age or have lived with blurry sight for a year or more.

Vance Thompson Vision’s team of experts believes that even one day of blurry vision is too many. Once started, cataracts only worsen, and currently, surgery is the only known treatment for the condition. That means if you know you have cataracts, learning your options soon and planning for your surgery is a good idea.

Cataract surgery technology is an exciting and advancing field. Once a one-size-fits-all procedure, it has become a customizable treatment that can accommodate a variety of circumstances. For many, it’s an opportunity to achieve the best vision of your life. Take Kristin Houg for example.

Kristin wore corrective lenses for most of her life, but as she aged, her contacts were increasingly uncomfortable, and her glasses always seemed to be in the way. She was disheartened to know she wasn’t a candidate for LASIK, but in a moment of optimism, she booked a consultation just to see if something had changed now that she was in her early 50s. During her appointment, Kristin was told that she still wasn’t a candidate for LASIK. But there was more: she also had early onset cataracts. In back-to-back procedures, Kristin’s doctor corrected her cataracts and achieved LASIK-like results. In no time, she was back on her motorcycle and looking forward to snowmobiling again.

“I am thrilled, absolutely thrilled, with how this turned out,” Kristin says.

Dick Rozum has also been thrilled with his clear vision. He wore glasses for 30 years and thought he would continue to for the rest of his life. He also used daily glaucoma drops and endured his cataracts for two years. As his need for cataract surgery grew, Dick visited Vance Thompson Vision to learn his options. He and his doctor settled on a premium lens that corrected his astigmatism and gave him 20/15 vision without glasses.

“Colors are brighter and more vivid, and I see like I did when I was a kid,” Dick says.

At age 67, Rumi Weigel’s depth perception had become unreliable and she had trouble reading, seeing at night, and distinguishing between dark colors. Since Rumi’s cataracts were noticeably affecting her everyday activities and she had tried several pairs of glasses with no relief, her optometrist encouraged her to pursue cataract surgery. Rumi can now distinguish between her black and navy clothing and can breathe easily when she has to go down stairs.

“After surgery, it was like seeing for the first time,” Rumi says. “I couldn’t believe I’d gone that long without truly seeing.”

If you’ve been struggling with symptoms similar to these patients, it’s time to schedule your cataract consultation at Vance Thompson Vision. Even one day is too many for blurry vision.