Cataracts

Cataracts Q&A

Cataracts can make it seem like you’re viewing the world through a foggy window, but advanced technologies like microsurgery and premium lenses can help. Board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Sara Creekmore, DO, treats cataracts at Tampa Bay Eye in Lutz, Florida. If you or a loved one has cataracts, call the office or request an appointment online today.

      Cataracts

      What are cataracts?

      Your eyes contain natural lenses that bend (refract) rays of light so you can see. Normally, lenses are clear. When you have cataracts, the lenses are cloudy. Cataracts affect your vision by making things look hazy, blurry, or less colorful.

      At first, cataract treatment may involve stronger lighting and eyeglasses. If vision impairment interferes with your day-to-day activities, it may be time to consider cataract surgery. Fortunately, Dr. Creekmore is a highly-skilled eye surgeon who specializes in cataract microsurgery.

      What are the symptoms of cataracts?

      Cataracts usually begin slowly and may not disturb your vision early on. Over time, you may experience the following signs and symptoms:

      • Clouded or blurred vision

      • Double vision in a single eye

      • Fading or yellowing colors

      • Sensitivity to light and glare

      • Seeing halos around lights

      • Increasing difficulty with night vision

      • Needing a brighter light for reading and other activities

      • More frequent changes in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription

      If you notice these symptoms or any changes in your vision, call Tampa Bay Eye to schedule an appointment.

      What causes cataracts?

      Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. Around age 40, the proteins in your lenses begin to break down, and when the fragments clump together, they cloud the lens.

      Certain factors increase your risk for cataracts, including:

      • Smoking cigarettes

      • Having a family history of cataracts

      • Spending a lot of time in the sun without ultraviolet (UV) eye protection

      • Having medical conditions like diabetes

      • Having had a previous eye injury or eye surgery

      Long-term use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, can cause cataracts to develop earlier.

      How are cataracts diagnosed and treated?

      At Tampa Bay Eye, Dr. Creekmore diagnoses cataracts by performing a comprehensive eye exam. This may include dilating your pupils to examine your retina and a slit-lamp exam to check structures in the front of your eye.

      Then, Dr. Creekmore recommends the best course of treatment for you, taking your lifestyle and goals into consideration. The only way to remove cataracts is with surgery. However, increasing the strength of your eyeglass prescription may delay the need for surgery if cataracts are in the early stages.

      When eyeglasses and stronger lighting are no longer effective, Dr. Creekmore will create a customized surgical plan based on the biometrics of your eye and your daily visual tasks and goals. This brief outpatient procedure involves removing the cloudy lens with a small surgical instrument through a process called phacoemulsification. After the cloudy lens is removed, it is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). The entire process is performed with micro-instruments. It involves clear corneal incisions and is designed in such a way that sutures are rarely needed.

      After cataract surgery, you can expect a few days of blurred vision and mild discomfort with minimal downtime.

      Dr. Creekmore offers a wide range of IOLs designed to best suit your hobbies and lifestyle, including PanOptix® trifocal lenses by Alcon and Envista Toric and Monofocal lenses by Bausch + Lomb.

      ​​​​​​​For specialized care and treatment of cataracts, call Tampa Bay Eye, or book an appointment online today.