Cataract Surgery
About
A cataract is a condition in which the lens of the eye can becomes cloudy and hard. Cataracts can develop from a variety of things, typically from aging, an eye injury or surgery, or if you have taken certain medications. Cataracts may cause blurred vision, dulled vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and/or ghost images.
When the cataract changes vision so much that it interferes with your daily life, the cataract may need to be removed. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the world. You can decide not to have the cataract removed. If you don’t have the surgery, your vision loss from the cataract will likely continue to get worse.
The goal of cataract surgery is to correct the decreased vision that is caused by the cataract. During the surgery, the surgeon removes the cataract and puts in a new artificial lens called an intraocular lens or IOL. The IOL will remain in the eye permanently. Cataract surgery will not correct other causes of decreased vision, such as glaucoma, diabetes, or age-related macular degeneration.
There are several IOL options available to you to achieve good vision after cataract surgery. This is probably the most important decision you need to make about your cataract surgery. Fortunately, at a Military Treatment Facility, not only do we offer an extremely wide selection of lenses, and they are available to eligible TRICARE patients at no cost.
Who Can Be Seen Here
- Active Duty Military
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Plus: Ages 4 and over
- Availability may be limited