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Clouded or blurry vision
Increased difficulty with vision at night (especially while driving)
Halos around lights
The need for frequent changes in your prescription
Fading or yellowing of colours
Double vision
The need for brighter light while reading and doing other activities
The risk of developing cataracts increases as you get older. Other risk factors include:
Certain diaseases such as diabetes
Environmental factors (prolonged exposure to UV rays)
Traumatic experience
Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed procedure in the world. It is also one of the safest and most effective surgeries. In about 90% of cases, patients who have cataract surgery have better, clearer vision after surgery.
Each patient will have to complete an anesthesia questionnaire prior to surgery to ensure they are good candidates. If there are any red flags on the questionnaire an anesthesia consult will be scheducled prior to surgery.
As with any surgery, cataract surgery poses risks, such as infection, a sudden increase in intraocular pressure or a retinal detachment, these risks are minimal however must be known. After surgery, you must follow all post operative instrictions including but not limited to, washing your hands before caring for your eye and using your prescription post operative eye drops. Please ensure that if any of the emergency scenarios on the post operative sheet arise you call the emergency contact number provided immediately.
Before your surgery you will meet with one of our surgical educators. During this appointment you will review the cataract surgery process, the options for surgery that best fit your personal lifestyle and desired outcomes. At this appointment all pre-operative and post-operative instructions will be reviewed and any questions you may have will be answered.
The answer is different for every patient, some will be able to see immediately following surgery, although the majority of patients vision becomes clearer a few days after surgery.
While some floaters can be effectively treated with vitreolysis laser, several floater types are difficult to treat and/or less likely to regress than others. To that end, it is necessary to first undergo an ophthalmic examination in order to determine your eligibility for laser floater removal treatment.
Generally-speaking, if you suffer from persistent moving shadows in your vision you are a good candidate for laser floater removal. A number of factors, such as age, onset of symptoms and floater characteristics, will also determine whether laser floater removal is your best treatment option.
Laser floater removal involves the application of nanosecond pulses of low-energy laser light to evaporate the vitreous opacities and to sever the vitreous strands. During this process, the laser energy evaporates the collagen and hyaluronin molecules to form a gas. The end result is that the floater is removed and/or reduced to a size that no longer impedes vision.
Laser floater removal is performed as an in office procedure at our central Richmond Hill site; you do not have to stay overnight in a hospital. Immediately prior to treatment, your ophthalmologist will administer eye drops to prepare the eye and to provide mild anesthesia. A contact lens will then be placed on your eye, with the laser light delivered through a specially designed microscope.
During treatment, you will likely observe small, dark specks/shadows signalling that the floaters are being evaporated into small gas bubbles. These gas bubbles quickly dissolve and reabsorb into the vitreous humor.
Once the treatment is complete, your are able to immediately resume normal activities with no down time.
Laser Vitreolysis is a very safe procedure. Reported side effects and complications associated with laser floater removal are rare. Side effects may include cataract and intraocular pressure (IOP) spike.
Clinical studies have shown vitreolysis to be a safe, effective treatment in the majority of patients. If floaters persist, however, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery.