Cataract Surgery at Advanced Sight Center

• What is a cataract?
• What causes cataracts?
• Cataract surgery.
• Don’t put your vision at risk.

Cataracts are a major cause of vision loss worldwide; almost 20 million people are blind because of the condition. Many people think of cataracts as alarming, assuming that if they get them, they will become blind. However, advanced cataract surgery can restore lost sight in most cases. In the United States, more than one million cataract surgeries are performed annually. Dr. Howard N. Short and Dr. Chris R. Ullrich at Advanced Sight Center in Washington and Creve Coeur, Missouri have always been at the forefront of cataract surgery. They are board-certified ophthalmologists with over three decades of combined experience; collectively they have performed more than 30,000 successful cataract surgeries. They offer the revolutionary “no-stitch, no-patch, no-injection” method of cataract surgery.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of a transparent part of your eye called the lens. A normally clear lens focuses light onto the retina, which is located in the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy and opaque, light cannot pass through to the retina, resulting in blurry or cloudy vision.

What causes cataracts?

The aging process is most directly associated with cataracts. As the body ages, the normally transparent lens begins to harden and becomes cloudy. There is increasing evidence that lifelong exposure to ultraviolet light contributes to the formation of cataracts. Over half of all people aged 65 or older have some degree of cataract development. In addition, eye injuries, certain medications, diabetes, kidney disease, smoking and high blood pressure may contribute to the formation of cataracts.

Cataract surgery.

Since there is presently no medical treatment to prevent cataracts or reverse them once they develop, the only treatment for cataracts is their surgical removal and today’s cataract surgery is a marvel of medical technology. The “no-stitch, no-patch, no-injection” method of cataract surgery is safe, effective and virtually painless. With this state-of-the-art procedure, Dr. Short and Dr. Ullrich gently remove your cloudy lens through a microscopic-sized incision and an intraocular lens is then carefully implanted to restore your vision. Cataract surgery is quick and effective and offers a rapid recovery time. In most cases, patients are able to return to work and their normal activities the next day. Dr. Short and Dr. Ullrich perform cataract surgeries at a fully licensed and accredited ambulatory surgical center that is conveniently located in each of their two offices.

Don’t put your vision at risk.