Cataract Surgery in Fredericksburg, VA

While most patients do not notice symptoms of cataracts until after 60, it is possible to develop cataracts at any age, even in newborns. It can take many years, even decades, for cataracts to progress to the point where they impair your vision. The best way to catch cataracts early is to undergo regular comprehensive eye exams.

Cataracts can only develop on a natural lens, so any eye that has previously had cataract surgery performed is immune from this problem in the future. The only patients we know that have had cataract surgery twice are those that had surgery on one eye and later returned to handle cataracts that developed on the other eye.

Your need for eyewear like eyeglasses or contact lenses primarily depends on which type of IOLs you select. If you have an existing prescription, it is convenient to choose a specific type of IOL (like monovision or multifocal) that corrects refractive errors so that you can limit your dependency on eyewear. IOL options should be discussed with your ophthalmologist prior to the surgery.

Most patients consider cataract surgery and the ensuing recovery period to be relatively easy. During the surgery, patients feel pressure on the eye instead of pain.

The recovery period itself can last a few days or a few weeks depending on the overall health of your eyes. Your vision should be better almost immediately once the cataracts are removed, with the quality of your eyesight improving more as the healing process completes.

By nature, cataracts get progressively worse with time. While the cloudiness you experience may seem tolerable now, the quality of your vision may eventually deteriorate to a point where you can no longer drive, read or see at night.

Many patients who resolve not to have the surgery wind up having to have it later. It is your decision whether to wait until your cataracts cause serious impairment or to take care of them sooner so that you do not have to struggle with lower quality vision for an extended period.

We do not allow our patients to drive themselves home after cataract surgery for a couple reasons. Firstly, your eyes will not be at their full capacity after surgery. Secondly, because our team provides you with a mild sedative to keep you relaxed and comfortable during the procedure, it is not safe to drive until after the sedative is fully out of your system.

Researchers continue to study why cataracts form, but they have yet to make any firm conclusions on steps you can take to prevent them. However, they have identified certain risk factors that can increase your chances of having cataracts, including obesity, high blood pressure and sun exposure. Making lifestyle adjustments may help in that respect, but it is far from a guarantee.