Indiana Cataract Awareness in Valparaiso

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center Cataract Surgeon Scott Buck, M.D. reminded patients about cataracts by sharing cataract surgery and lens implant information that is important for everyone, especially seniors, to know more about. “It seems as if everyone I speak to knows someone or has a friend or relative who has a cataract or has had cataract surgery and lens implants,” noted Dr. Buck. “The U.S. data on cataracts suggests that some 25 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts and more than half of all Americans over 65 years of age have some degree of cataract development. In fact cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss among seniors,” said Dr. Buck.

Even with this significant growth of people who suffer from cataracts, many are unknowing and don’t realize that a cataract is not a film over the eye but is a clouding of the crystalline lens preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a dimming and blurring of vision. For many patients cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision. The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.

“What many people do not realize is that the poor vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline. Further, the challenges reduced vision creates in terms of mobility and safety can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery has an important place in securing senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state,” said Dr. Buck.

“When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with patient comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated surgically. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Today, we have a full range of lens implants available that allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients,”, said Valparaiso Cataract Surgeon Scott Buck, M.D.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center in Valparaiso, IN is staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services. We are conveniently located for patients seeking eye care from throughout northern Indiana including La Porte, Mishawaka, South Bend, Michigan City, Crown Point, Merrillville, Chesterton, South Haven, Westville, Hebron, Lowell, Valparaiso and Walkerton as well as Chicago, Illinois suburban areas of Frankfurt, Calumet City, Monee and Crete.