As the US population ages, the rate of cataract procedures has correspondingly increased.  By 2050 an estimated 83.7 million people in the US will be 65 and over. Due to the improvements in safety, speed and refractive outcomes of cataract surgery, the number of procedures has dramatically increased over the last 30 years.  Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the incidences of patients opting for cataract procedures before the age of 65. The expanding longevity of this aging demographic results in higher expectations that premium intraocular lens will provide continued good vision for decades.

A recent paper from Assil Eye Institute and Batra Vision in California reviews the role of ultra-widefield imaging as a standard assessment tool in cataract procedure.  This review demonstrates the value of UWF imaging as a complement to standard approaches for a comprehensive evaluation of retinal health prior to and following cataract surgery.  Evaluating the retina prior to, and after, surgery is critical for optimal outcomes. Being able to identify any pathologies before that might adversely affect or delay surgery, as well as, the high expectations for sustained positive visual outcomes from the younger demographic opting for surgery, makes a thorough …

While the exact causes of cataracts are still not entirely understood, annual eye exams are still important for the diagnoses and treatment of their formation.  Even with precautions and regular exams, by the year 2020, more than 30 million Americans are expected to develop cataracts.

Most cataracts occur gradually as we age and don’t become bothersome until after age 55. However, cataracts can also be present at birth (congenital cataracts) or occur at any age as the result of an injury to the eye (traumatic cataracts). Cataracts can also be caused by diseases such as diabetes or can occur as the result of long-term use of certain medications.  While typically forming in both eyes, cataracts may not grow at the same rate. They can develop slowly or quickly, or progress to a certain point, then not get any worse. As a result, one may not notice substantial changes in their sight. Sometimes they can significantly precede symptoms and can be so subtle as to go unnoticed without a comprehensive eye exam.

When Vince Young, OD introduced Daytona, into his practice, he volunteered to be the imaging guinea pig while his staff trained on the device.  He was unnerved …

June is Cataract Awareness Month and while many people may consider cataracts to simply be an inevitable aspect of aging, there is a great deal more to know and understand. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States, and the leading cause of blindness in the world. Although 24 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts, the condition is more complex and nuanced than most may realize.

A cataract is an opacification of the natural lens, which inhibits or distorts the passage of light into the eye. The lens, located behind the pupil and iris, is typically transparent and transmits light onto the retina – the resulting signals become pictures in the brain.

Almost all of us realize and accept that as we age, we are likely to develop a cataract. However, the exact causes are still not entirely understood. Besides the natural aging process, there are several other possible risk factors for cataracts, such as:

Intense heat or long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun Certain diseases, such as diabetes Inflammation in the eye Hereditary influences Events before birth, such as German measles in the mother Long-term steroid use Eye …