Orange County Eye and Cataract Surgery Center
"No Stitch Cataract surgery in Orange County"
Please note, we currently specialize in LASIK and PRK surgery only. We no longer provide these services but will leave this information on the website for educational purposes.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is an opacification or clouding of the normal human crystalline lens. The lens is normally clear throughout our life. As the lens loses its clarity, it becomes a cataract. Cataracts can affect anyone at any age. However, they are more common in people over sixty. As many as six in ten people over sixty may have cataracts.
Cataract surgery in Orange County and in the United States is one of the most frequently performed operations. In Orange County approximately ten thousand cataract surgery operations are performed each year. In the United states, there are over one million cataract operations each year.
Cataracts in Orange County can vary in severity. Early cataracts can be observed if they do not affect your vision. However, cataracts can also progress to the point where you may have very little or no vision.
What are the signs of a cataract?
A. Normal Clear Vision B. Vision with Cataract
A cataract will decrease your vision. Some of the common signs of cataracts are:
- Failure to pass the Orange County DMV vision test
- Glare and Halo
- Sensitivity to bright lights and sunshine
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty driving, especially at night
- Cloudy vision
- Color distortion
- Difficulty getting a correct pair of glasses
- Progressively worsening vision
There are different types of cataracts. Cataracts differ in how they affect vision.
What are the most common causes of cataracts?
- Normal Aging Process
- Diabetes
- Medications
- Trauma
- Genetics
The most common cause of cataracts is the normal aging process of the lens. This type of cataract is called a senile or nuclear sclerotic cataract.
However, certain medical conditions and drugs may cause you to develop a cataract younger or cause the cataract to progess more quickly. Diabetes, hypertension, and advanced medical diseases can cause cataracts. In addition, medications such as steriods can cause cataracts.
Are there different types of cataracts?
Yes, there are many different types of cataracts that we see at the Orange County Cataract Center. The information below will help you to classify the different types of cataracts. Dr. Tony Pham, your Orange County Cataract Surgeon, will let you know what type of cataract you have.
- Nuclear or Senile Cataract - This is the most common type. The natural lens becomes brown or opaque.
- Cortical Cataract - This type of cataract is common in diabetics. It can cause significant glare and halo at night. Patients may also have light sensitivity.
- Posterior Subcapsular Cataract - This type of cataract is more common in people who have used steriods. This type of cataract can progress very quickly and quickly decrease your vision.
- Traumatic Cataract - These types of cataracts are uncommon and caused by having an injury to your eye.
Are there risks to cataract surgery?
Every surgery has risks of infection, inflammation, or loss of vision. However, these risks are low and must be considered against the potential benefit you will have after cataract surgery. Dr. Pham will be happy to discuss the risks and benefits of the cataract surgery with you.
What should I do if I suspect I have a cataract in Orange County?
At the Orange County Eye and Cataract Center, Dr. Pham will examine your eyes to see if cataract surgery may benefit you. Please call the Orange County Eye and Cataract Center at 619-293-3516 to schedule your examination.
During the cataract surgery evaluation, Dr. Pham will check your vision with and without glare. He will also examine the severity of the cataract.
Please call the Orange County Eye and Cataract Center for more information at 619-293-3516
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