If you notice your vision is becoming blurred or colors don’t appear as bright as they once did, like you’re looking through a frosted window, you might have cataracts. Make an appointment at Desert Ophthalmology in Palm Springs or Palm Desert, California, where Dr. Wallace Goldban, MD offers expert diagnosis and treatment for cataracts. Schedule your visit by calling the practice or using the online booking tool.

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What are cataracts?

A cataract is a common eye condition that’s more prevalent in people age 60 and older where the lens in your eye becomes cloudy.

The lens of your eye is behind your iris and focuses the light that enters your eye, helping you to see clearly. As you get older, the proteins in the lens break down and cause the lens to get cloudy.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Cataracts often develop slowly and don’t usually cause symptoms in their early stages. However, as your lens becomes more cloudy, you may notice symptoms such as:

  • Blurry vision
  • Dull colors
  • A yellow tint
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Trouble seeing at night
  • Double vision

If you notice any of these symptoms, call or make an appointment online to meet with the doctors at Desert Ophthalmology for diagnosis and treatment.

What causes cataracts?

In many cases, cataracts are caused by the aging process and the breakdown of the proteins in the lens of your eye. This process usually begins around age 40 but doesn’t generally cause symptoms until you reach your 60s or even later.

Your risk of having cataracts is higher if you:

  • Have a family history of cataracts
  • Spend a lot of time in the sun without wearing protective sunglasses
  • Have a medical condition like diabetes
  • Have a prior eye injury

It’s possible for cataracts to develop in younger patients as well, usually as a complication of diabetes or another medical condition.

How are cataracts treated?

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery to replace the lens in your eye with an intraocular lens (IOL). Dr. Goldban performs cataract surgery and uses ReSTOR® intraocular lenses and toric lenses, as well as the ORA System™ (Optiwave Refractive Analysis) to monitor your eye measurements throughout the surgery.

Dr. Goldban performs cataract surgery as an outpatient procedure. You’re awake throughout the relatively short procedure where he numbs your eye before making small incisions to remove and replace your lens.

One of the additional benefits of cataract surgery is that the lens transplant also resolves vision issues like nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).

If you’re concerned about cataracts or your vision is already impaired by this condition, call Desert Ophthalmology or make an appointment online today.