Cataract Care for Saskatoon

What Are Cataracts?

You’ve probably heard of cataracts, but what are they exactly? Cataracts occur as you age and your eye’s natural crystalline lens becomes cloudy. Cataracts scatter and blocks the light preventing the creation of a sharp, clear, bright image.

Cataract Surgery

Depending on the severity of your cataracts, you may be able to live a normal life with some minor adjustments. Initially, we’ll likely prescribe glasses to help with everyday tasks, but if glasses are no longer able to allow you to perform your normal activities, it could be time for surgery. Cataract surgery typically takes 10-15 minutes per eye and will help you regain your sight, including the ability to see clearly at night.

Cataract surgery is usually done on each eye, on separate occasions, minimizing the impact and allowing your eyes to heal. Healing time can take up to a month, but complications from surgery are rare. During surgery, your lens is replaced with an artificial one. The power of the artificial lens can be adjusted to reduce your need for glasses and allow you to see similarly to how you did before developing cataracts.

If you’re ready for cataract surgery, we can explain your options and refer you to Saskatoon’s best ophthalmologists.

Cataract Symptoms & Risk Factors

Just like the aging process, cataracts don’t happen overnight. Because of the gradual development of cataracts, symptoms may not be noticeable until they become more advanced. You may notice blurry vision, dim vision, and dullness of colours, but we recommend an annual eye exam to catch cataracts early.

You may have an increased risk of early cataracts if you have certain health conditions, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity

Genetics, lifestyle, and previous eye surgeries or injuries can also increase your likelihood of developing cataracts. Be sure to let us know during your annual eye exam if you have a family history of cataracts, if you smoke, or if you’ve had any eye surgeries or injuries.