cataracts

A cataract is not anything dangerous or urgent. It is simply the natural lens of the eye, like the lens of a camera, which has undergone natural changes and is now cloudy. So instead of looking through a clear lens, it is like looking through a frosted or dirty window. This can make things appear darker, more blurry, and harder to see in general.

Things you might notice as cataracts get worse are increased sensitivity to lights causing excessive glare (like those newer halogen headlights we all love to hate!), whether they be sunlight, fluorescent lights or headlights. Nighttime driving might be especially challenging, or you may have noticed not wanting to drive at night because of the glare from headlights, difficulty seeing the signs, or maybe it is just all darker now. Smaller letters might also be a challenge, and you may now use a magnifying glass or rely on increasing the font on your electronic reader or computer. Colors may be more difficult to distinguish, such as greens and browns, or blues and blacks. You might find yourself not greeting people because you can’t recognize their faces because of your poor vision. The writing on the television might be harder to see. You may even find yourself changing pairs of glasses more often and not being happy with any of them.

You will know when it is time to take out the cataract…when you can’t do the things you like to do or enjoy the things you used to take pleasure in such as going to a movie or show or reading a good book. Come by and we’ll let you know if you have cataracts, and if you do, we’ll discuss your options with you to optimize your vision. (See the section on multifocal lenses to find out about this exciting new technology for vision correction.) In some cases, we will only suggest changing your glasses and waiting and watching them. In others, it may be necessary to remove cataracts surgically in order for you to see well. In either case, we’ll walk you through the whole process and clearly explain everything to you. Why live with poor vision when there is an option to correct it? Live your life to the fullest!

Dr. George Salib is a leading cataract specialist and top ophthalmic surgeon in California.

​​​​​​​An alumnus of UCLA, Georgetown University, and University of Wisconsin Medical School, he received ophthalmology training at King-Drew Medical Center, a residency program affiliated with UCLA, and followed a fellowship in advanced surgical techniques at Tulane University, New Orleans.

Besides cataract treatments, Dr. Salib is also experienced in multifocal lenses, laser eye treatments, Glaucoma, corneal transplants, macular degeneration, Comprehensive eye care, Laser-assisted cataract surgery, Dry eye and pterygium surgery. He is passionate about educating others on eye health and is committed to helping patients maximize their vision and living their lives to the fullest.

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