Cataract Exams in Alpharetta, GA
Cloudy vision, glare from headlights or colors that look faded? At Reimbold Eye Group in Alpharetta, we check for cataracts at every comprehensive exam, help you manage early ones, and when the time is right refer you only to the best cataract surgeons for optimum care. We don't perform surgery; we make sure you get to the right surgeon at the right time, with your exam findings in hand.
What a cataract is and the signs to watch for
A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. That lens sits behind the colored iris and is about the size of an M&M. With age, its proteins slowly clump and turn cloudy or yellow, like a window that fogs up a little more each year. Cataracts grow slowly, so many people live well with them for years.
Blur that new glasses don't fully fix, or that doesn't clear when you blink or clean your lenses.
Glare, starbursts and halos around headlights at night.
Colors that look faded or yellow, and needing more light to read.
Frequent prescription changes, sudden reading without readers, or double images in one eye.
Other problems can cause some of the same symptoms. A full exam is the only way to know which one you have. Read more in our post on cataract symptoms and when to consider surgery.
How we check for cataracts in Alpharetta
A cataract check is part of every comprehensive eye exam at our office on Old Milton Parkway. We measure how clearly you see, refine your glasses prescription to see whether new lenses still sharpen your vision, and look at the lens with a slit lamp microscope, usually after dilating your pupils.
Every exam also includes retinal photos, corneal topography and an OCT scan, because a cataract can hide other problems behind it, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic eye disease. See the instruments on our eye exam technology page.
Living well with early cataracts
Early on, small changes often keep vision comfortable:
Update your glasses. A new prescription often brings vision back to a comfortable level.
Choose an anti-reflective coating to cut glare from headlights and screens. See our custom luxury lenses and night driving glare guide.
Wear sunglasses outdoors to lower glare and protect your eyes from more UV.
Get checked every year, or sooner if your vision changes, so we can tell you when things have moved on.
When it's time for surgery: referral to the best surgeons
Reimbold Eye Group does not perform surgery. Our role is to find your cataract, follow it, and tell you honestly when it has started to get in the way of driving, reading, work or hobbies. Surgery is worth talking about when glasses no longer give you the vision you need or glare makes night driving unsafe.
When that time comes, we refer you only to the best cataract surgeons, ophthalmologists in the north Atlanta area who give optimum care. Dry eye, macular disease or a past corneal problem can change which lens implant is best, so we share your exam findings and images with the surgeon. Our guide to optometrists and ophthalmologists explains how that teamwork works.
Lens implant choices to ask your surgeon about
The surgeon removes the cloudy lens through a tiny opening and replaces it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL. When people search for premium cataract surgery, they usually mean the choice of implant:
Standard single-focus (monofocal): sharp vision at one distance, usually far, with readers for close work. Usually covered by insurance.
Toric: also corrects astigmatism.
Multifocal and extended-range: designed to give a wider range of clear vision with less need for glasses, though some people notice halos at night.
Upgraded lenses usually add out-of-pocket cost, and not every eye is a good match for them.
Your vision after cataract surgery
After surgery, vision often clears within days. Once your eye has healed, usually a few weeks later, we can check your new prescription and help you choose glasses for reading, computer work or driving. If you would rather not depend on readers, ask us about contact lens options such as multifocal and monovision contact lenses.
If you wear scleral lenses for keratoconus or an irregular cornea, a developing cataract can add haze, glare or a double image that stays even when the scleral fit looks good. We compare your corneal map, your vision with the lens on and the clarity of the natural lens to separate the two causes.
Related care at Reimbold Eye Group
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Multifocal contact lensesSee up close and far away without reading glasses.
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Scleral and specialty contact lensesFor keratoconus, corneal scars and high astigmatism.
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Dry eye treatmentDry eye can affect which implant is best.
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DreamSculpt Ortho-K for kidsCustom overnight lenses for nearsighted children.
Cataract questions
Does Reimbold Eye Group perform cataract surgery?
No. We don't perform surgery. We find cataracts, follow them over time and help you see as well as possible while they are mild. When surgery is the right step, we refer you only to the best cataract surgeons, who give optimum care, and we share your exam findings and images with them.
Can eye drops dissolve a cataract?
No. There are no approved eye drops that clear or reverse a cataract, even though some are sold online with that claim. Early on, a new glasses prescription, anti-glare lenses and better lighting help. Once a cataract really gets in the way, surgery is the only treatment that removes it.
Do cataracts have to be ripe before surgery?
No. That advice dates back to older surgical methods. Today the right time is when the cataract makes everyday tasks such as night driving, reading or work hard, and new glasses no longer fix the blur. Waiting until a cataract is very dense can make surgery more complex.
For cataract surgery, should I choose near or distance vision?
It depends on how you like to live with glasses. With a distance target you see far without glasses and use readers or progressives up close. With a near target, staying a little nearsighted, you can read and use your phone without glasses but wear glasses to drive. Ask your surgeon what target they plan for each eye and whether both eyes will match.
Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?
It depends on the lens implant. A standard single-focus implant usually leaves you needing readers, or glasses for distance if it is set for near. Toric implants also correct astigmatism, and multifocal or extended-range implants can reduce how often you need glasses. Most people get a final glasses prescription a few weeks after surgery.
Can a cataract come back after surgery?
The cataract itself cannot come back, because the cloudy lens is removed. Months or years later, the thin capsule that holds the new lens can turn hazy and blur vision again. This is common and is fixed with a quick, painless laser treatment in the surgeon's office.
Serving Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek and Cumming
Patients come to our Alpharetta office for cataract exams and monitoring from across North Fulton and Forsyth County.
Book a cataract check in Alpharetta
Noticing glare at night, faded colors or blur that new glasses don't fix? Schedule a comprehensive eye exam and we will tell you where your eyes stand.