Can a Retina Examination be Done if There is a Cataract?

Evaluating and treating your eye health is of the utmost importance for our team at Associated Retina Consultants. We want to preserve or restore your vision through treatment and management using various technologies, therapies and surgeries. Our well-trained physicians and specialists are committed to providing the highest quality of retinal care. 

One of the most common age-related eye conditions is cataracts. Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s natural lens that progresses into 4 stages, eventually resulting in cataract removal surgery to bring clarity to vision. Cataracts are typically diagnosed during a retinal exam, a test that involves dilating the pupil to evaluate any change or damage to the retina. When the ophthalmologist or retinal specialist looks through the enlarged pupil with a slit-lamp or ophthalmoscope, the vitreous, retina and other structures at the back of the eye can reveal signs of a cataract or other eye diseases. 

In the early stages of cataract development, it may not be obvious a cataract is present by simply looking at the eye, which is why retinal imaging is important. A cataract scatters and blocks light as it passes through the lens preventing a sharply defined image from reaching the back of the eye or the retina. The more advanced the cataract development, the more limited the retina will be during a retinal examination. However, Associated Retina Consultants offers additional options such as optical coherence tomography and ocular ultrasound so that a retina examination can be done if there is a cataract, even if it has reached a mature stage of development. Your ophthalmologist can provide options following a dilated eye exam. 

Retinal detachment is twice as likely in patients who have had cataract surgery but has become a far less surgical complication thanks to modern cataract surgery techniques. It is important to continue to have retina examinations following cataract surgery. Retinal detachment can cause the following visual changes: a darkening or curtain-like covering of the visual field, a sudden onset of blurry vision, flashes of light in the field of vision, and eye floaters. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away to sustain quality of vision. For a retinal exam, call our office today at 602-242-4928 or book your appointment online at WEBSITE.