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Although cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision, little is known about their cause. Aging, a family history, injuries, certain diseases, and some medications may increase the likelihood of developing cataracts. Much like a camera, the eye’s lens focuses light entering the eye onto the retina. From there, image information is sent to the brain via the optic nerve. The cataract, a clouding of the normally clear lens, causes that image to blur, similar to the blur created by a dirty camera lens. Once cataracts are removed, however; they do not return and vision is almost always significantly restored.

It is time to seek professional evaluation when you experience:

• Hazy or blurred vision

• Vision decreasing resulting in more frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions

• Halos and glare appearing around lights making it difficult to drive at night

• Colors appearing less vivid than normal

Diagnosing
Taken alone, none of these symptoms mean you have a cataract. Our team of trained ophthalmologists and optometrists will perform a thorough eye examination to determine whether a cataract or other eye disorder is responsible for your visual disturbance. This comprehensive exam includes a complete visual assessment with a thorough examination of the eye thru dilation of the pupils. Depending on it’s density a cataract can cause vision loss ranging from barely noticeable to complete blindness.

Treatment
When poor vision forces you to make significant changes in your lifestyle and are struggling to do the things that are important, you will probably decide to have cataract surgery. There are no known medicines, vitamins or diets that will prevent or correct cataracts.

To many, cataract surgery is a modern day miracle. The operation itself is routinely performed on an outpatient basis. Surgery in Warsaw is performed in our own modern Grossnickle Eye Surgery Center. In Mishawaka, surgery is performed at the Allied Physicians Surgery Center and at Unity Surgical Arts. We also do surgery at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth. These facilities offer our patients convenience and the latest advancements in surgical restoration techniques.

Our surgeons perform “no-stitch” cataract surgery. Working under a microscope using mild sedation and topical anesthetic drops, the physician makes a very small incision through which the cataract is removed and a foldable intraocular lens is implanted. Patients are awake during the entire procedure, which usually takes less than 15 minutes and causes little to no discomfort. This technique offers many benefits to help you get back to your normal activities quickly, generally, without restrictions the day after the surgery.

Your Care After Surgery
After surgery, complete instructions will be given to you and reviewed in detail by our nursing staff before you leave the surgery center. You will be examined the next day. You may then return to your optometrist for further follow-up examinations and new glasses.

Surgery Center
Our surgery center has received the highest level of certification and accreditation. Grossnickle Eye Surgery Center is fully licensed by the Indiana Department of Health and approved by Medicare. It was the first eye center in Indiana accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). We have received continuous accreditation since 1988.