Cataract Surgery Co-Management

Cataracts result in the clouding of the lens of the eyeball. Cataracts prevent clear images from appearing on the eye’s retina; causing mild, moderate, even severe blurred vision.

Typically an eye disorder associated with aging, cataracts generally occur later in life as the lens structure within the human eye changes and gets older. Cataract surgery is a common procedure in Canada. In 2014, there were 175,000 surgeries performed in Ontario and by 2026, it’s likely that this number will increase to 250,000. In addition to age, other risk factors that lead to cataracts include smoking, UV overexposure and diabetes.

During the evaluation of your eye health we will carefully examine your lens for signs of cataract formation. If a cataract is noticed and the clouding is causing visual disruption, the Optometrist will refer you to a trusted and respected surgeon for surgery, which is the only known cure for cataracts. We will be there for you providing pre- and post-cataract surgery care.

Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye (also called the “crystalline lens”) that has developed an opacification, which is referred to as a cataract. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers over the time lead to the development of the cataract and loss of transparency, causing impairment or loss of vision. During cataract surgery, a patient’s cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a synthetic lens implant to restore the transparency of the lens.

Cataract surgery is generally performed by an Ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) in an ambulatory setting, in a surgical center or hospital, using local anesthesia, usually causing little or no discomfort to the patient. An overwhelming majority of operations are successful in restoring useful vision, with a low complication rate.

To learn more about cataract surgery please see this link put together by the Queen’s University Ophthalmology Department (details on fees are subject to change).