St. Petersburg and Clearwater Cataract Surgeons
The Ophthalmologists at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute are well-known for their drive to offer patients better vision using the latest techniques and technology. The St. Petersburg and Clearwater team of eye doctors provides a welcoming atmosphere that puts patient education at the forefront. The center is the only one in North Florida named an Alcon Center of Excellence.
This multi-generational practice offers a comfortable setting for patients to receive state-of-the-art care for cataracts and other eye diseases. The Ophthalmologists can restore your vision through cataract surgery — a safe and effective procedure that removes the cataract and replaces it with an artificial lens.
Cataract Surgery in St. Petersburg and Clearwater
Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss and blindness, but they are curable through cataract surgery. A cataract occurs when the proteins inside the lens of your eye build up and clump together, turning the clear lens opaque and affecting your vision. The symptoms may seem minor at first, with starbursts around lights when you drive at night. As the cataract worsens and the lens becomes cloudier, you may experience blurred vision, light sensitivity, double vision in the affected eye and dimmer eyesight in the daytime.
This eye disease is common in those 40 or older, and nearly half of adults have a cataract by the time they are 75. Some lifestyle factors can increase your likelihood of developing cataracts at a younger age, such as uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, smoking, UV light exposure, cholesterol medications or eye trauma.
Cataract surgery is the only way to eliminate the cataract. The procedure involves removing the clouded natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). You will notice improved vision right away, but full recovery takes a month or longer. Various IOLs are available that also address refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, so you can have clear, crisp vision after cataract surgery.
St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute also offers laser vision correction with LASIK and treatments for eye disease and conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, keratoconus and macular degeneration. Call (866) 775-8734 to schedule your appointment and discuss your ocular health and treatment options.