Cataracts
Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens that causes progressively blurry vision, glare sensitivity, and faded colors, most commonly developing with age.
Definition
Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens that causes progressively blurry vision, glare sensitivity, and faded colors, most commonly developing with age.
In-Depth
What You Need to Know
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and affect more than half of Americans by age 80. The lens protein breaks down over time, causing clouding that scatters light and reduces clarity. Types include nuclear sclerotic (most common age-related, central yellowing), cortical (spoke-like wedges from the periphery), and posterior subcapsular (fast-growing, at the back of the lens, common with steroid use and diabetes). Symptoms include blurred vision, increased glare with night driving, double vision in one eye, frequent prescription changes, and colors appearing faded or yellowish. Surgery is recommended when cataracts impair daily activities. Modern cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure (15-30 minutes) where the clouded lens is removed via phacoemulsification and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Premium IOL options include multifocal, extended depth-of-focus, and toric (astigmatism-correcting) lenses.
Calls & Questions
What Patients Ask
Common phone questions about cataracts — and how Front Desk handles scheduling and call routing automatically.
Common Patient Questions
- 1Do I have cataracts?
- 2When do cataracts need surgery?
- 3Is cataract surgery covered by insurance?
- 4What types of lens implants are available?
How Front Desk Helps Your Practice
Front Desk answers questions about cataracts, notes that cataract evaluation is part of a comprehensive eye exam, explains insurance coverage (standard surgery covered by medical insurance, premium IOLs may have additional costs), and schedules evaluations.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cataracts.
Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens that causes progressively blurry vision, glare sensitivity, and faded colors, most commonly developing with age. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and affect more than half of Americans by age 80. The lens protein breaks down over time, causing clouding that scatters light and reduces clarity.
Your optometry provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk answers questions about cataracts, notes that cataract evaluation is part of a comprehensive eye exam, explains insurance coverage (standard surgery covered by medical insurance, premium IOLs may have additional costs), and schedules evaluations.
Your optometry provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk answers questions about cataracts, notes that cataract evaluation is part of a comprehensive eye exam, explains insurance coverage (standard surgery covered by medical insurance, premium IOLs may have additional costs), and schedules evaluations.
Your optometry provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk answers questions about cataracts, notes that cataract evaluation is part of a comprehensive eye exam, explains insurance coverage (standard surgery covered by medical insurance, premium IOLs may have additional costs), and schedules evaluations.
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