A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that can make it hard for you to see. The condition is most common in older people, but anyone can have one.

As cataracts grow, they can cause symptoms that interfere with daily activities. Cataracts can cause dim, blurred, yellow or double vision. This can make it hard to read, work on a computer and anything else that calls for clear eyesight. You may also experience poor night vision and find it harder to drive when it’s dark. People with advanced cataracts can even fail the vision part of a driver’s test. Cataracts can make you more sensitive to glare from the sun. You might see a halo around bright lights. This can keep you from being outdoors as much as you’d like.

If you have any of these symptoms, cataract surgery could be a great solution for you. During cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens – IOL) to restore clear vision. The procedure typically is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful surgeries involving the eye. Although cataract surgery is very safe and side effects are rare, there is a chance you could experience a complication such as:

• Eye infection or swelling
• Bleeding
• Retinal detachment
• Feeling of pressure inside your eye
• Loosening of new implant
• Fluid buildup in eye
• Drooping eyelid

As your eyes heal in the days following surgery, you may experience various visual disturbances such as glare and halos. This is normal and they usually subside over time.

Most people notice a significant improvement in their vision and can resume everyday activities within 24 hours after cataract surgery. However, depending on which intraocular lens you have implanted, it can take between two to six months to completely adjust and for you to achieve your optimal vision. Because IOLs are made of durable material, it’s rare that they need to be replaced.

If you are ready to see clearly again, contact The Eye Clinic Surgicenter in Billings to schedule a cataract surgery consultation.  Call 406-252-6608 or visit theeyeclinicsurgicenter.com to schedule your appointment today!