Monday, May 31, 2021

Can Cataracts Regrow?

 



From time to time we hear patients ask about whether cataracts “regrow” after they have had cataract surgery. Sometimes patients will tell us that a friend, neighbor or relative had a cataract regrow. The fact is that cataracts do not come back after they are surgically removed!

When your cataract surgeon performs cataract & lens implant surgery, the cloudy natural lens of your eye is replaced with a clear artificial lens that is placed within a thin membrane-called the “lens capsule”-that is intentionally left in place to secure the new artificial lens. The new lens does not become cloudy again. However, some people do develop what is called a “secondary” cataract some time later after the initial surgery that occurs when the thin membrane that holds the lens becomes cloudy. With a quick painless procedure called a YAG Laser Capsulotomy, your eye surgeon can make an opening in the cloudy capsule, allowing light to pass through again for clear vision. This YAG procedure almost instantly restores clear vision with the entire procedure taking less than 5 minutes and requiring no downtime.
 
If you or someone you is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataracts, cataract surgery and lens implants please call and schedule an eye exam at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or Facebook.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is a leading eye care center in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Herpes Zoster Vaccine: Should You Have It?

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO) is a type of eye infection caused by the Herpes Zoster virus. While most people know of different types of Herpes virus, most are not familiar with the devastating consequences including vision loss of HZO. In addition, recent studies reported in Ophthalmology, showed that the incidence of HZO has increased 3.6% per year from 1994 to 2018 in the United States. Yet, the vaccination rate for Herpes Zoster remains low. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Health Committee suggests that greater efforts should be made to vaccinate eligible adults 50 years of age and older according to recommended schedules. If you are over 50 and have not had a Herpes Zoster vaccination ask your primary care doctor if you are eligible and whether it is important for you to consider. Call us at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or Facebook.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is a leading eye care center in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists