 Cataract
Surgery Benefits
Since 1980, patients who had
cataract surgery at the Florida Eye Center have enjoyed an
improvement in their quality of life, reflected in their
independence, driving skills, community activities, home
activities, ability to read ,drive, watch TV and improved
energy and mental health.
The benefits of modern cataract
surgery are proven. The Florida Eye Center feels that older
people who have cataract surgery reduce their chances of
having a car accident or falling by more than 50 percent.
In addition to greater safety,
those who had cataract surgery enjoyed other benefits. People
who did not have the cataract surgery were less independent
and got out only 1/2 the time. This could be that cataracts
cause patients to limit their driving, going out, activities,
enjoyment, and mobility.
The limitations on driving, an
ability that may be needed to commute to work or an activity
site, could have a significant impact on the quality of life
for someone who wants to remain active and independent.
Despite the proven benefits, many
patients are reluctant to have cataract surgery. They may
delay it because of an unrealistic fear of pain, fear of the
unknown or lack of family support. They may procrastinate to
address other chronic conditions, or the mistaken perception
that cataract surgery requires a significant amount of time
for recovery.
At the Florida Eye Center, our
advanced cataract operations are performed in an outpatient
setting that is safe and convenient. You do not require
admission to a hospital. Twenty years ago, thick glasses were
prescribed so that people who had cataract surgery could see.
Since 1980 , however, small, soft artificial lenses are safely
implanted in the eye. These intraocular lenses (IOLs) are
custom ordered for you to restore your vision to its full
potential. This out-patient treatment can provide good
distance vision with thin glasses or, sometimes, without
glasses at all.
Reduces the Risks for Senior
Drivers
Older drivers are at greater risk
when driving at night. As we age, our visual acuity (ability
to clearly see small detail) declines and we require more
light to see.
In fact, for every 15 years of
life, the amount of light admitted to the eye is cut by half.
That means a driver over age 60
needs 3 times as much light as an average 20 year old.
As a result many older drivers
feel (often are ) unsafe driving at night or don't drive at
all when it gets dark.
Here are the facts on why we are
more visually challenged as we age:
-
Visual acuity (ability to see
small detail) and contrast sensitivity decline with age.
-
This makes it more difficult to
read highway signs and dash panel displays.
-
Contrast sensitivity also declines
with age. This makes it more difficult to see unexpected
obstacles in the road.
-
Reduced vision causes greater
sensitivity to glare. This makes it more difficult to recover
from glare.
By improving your nighttime
vision, which can be done at the FLORIDA EYE CENTER with the
new cataract surgery and lens implants, now older drivers may
possibly:
-
Improve reaction time
-
Better judge speed and distance of
approaching vehicles
-
Better detect and identify
obstacles in the road
-
Better differentiate foreground
from background
-
Be safer drivers again.
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