Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, leading to gradually worsening vision. This can make reading, driving at night, and recognizing faces more difficult. Cataracts are extremely common with aging, and treatment when needed is highly successful.

At The Medical Group of New Jersey, our ophthalmology team provides comprehensive evaluation, personalized counseling, and state-of-the-art surgical care to restore clear, comfortable vision.

Symptom Onset & Initial Evaluation

Cataracts develop slowly over time. Many people first notice subtle changes in visual clarity or increased sensitivity to light. During your initial appointment at The Medical Group of New Jersey, your ophthalmologist will take time to understand how your vision is affecting your daily activities.

The initial visit typically includes:

• Review of vision changes, such as glare, difficulty reading, or trouble driving at night
• Discussion of overall eye health and medical history
• Visual acuity testing (to measure how clearly you see at distance and near)
• A slit-lamp exam to assess the clarity of the lens
• Dilated eye exam to evaluate the retina and rule out other causes of vision loss

If you have other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetes, we incorporate these into your personalized assessment and treatment plan.

Diagnosis & Risk Assessment

Diagnosis focuses on determining how much the cataract is interfering with your quality of life and evaluating whether surgery is appropriate. Testing may include:

• Slit-lamp examination of the lens
• Glare and contrast sensitivity testing
• Dilated retinal exam
• Measurement of refractive error (glasses prescription)

Your ophthalmologist will consider the following factors to determine the best timing for cataract surgery:

• Vision impact on daily tasks
• Night-driving safety
• Presence of other eye diseases
• Overall health and medications
• Surgical goals (e.g., reducing glasses dependence)

Treatment & Management

Cataracts cannot be reversed with medication, but they can be safely and effectively removed with surgery when they begin to interfere with your daily life.

Treatment decisions are personalized at The Medical Group of New Jersey and may include:

Non-Surgical Approaches (Early Cataracts)

• Updated eyeglasses prescription
• Anti-glare sunglasses
• Improved lighting for reading or crafts
• Monitoring for progression

Cataract Surgery

When symptoms affect your quality of life, cataract surgery is recommended. It is one of the safest and most effective surgeries performed today.¹

Your surgeon will discuss:

• Intraocular lens (IOL) options
  • Standard monofocal lenses
  • Toric lenses for astigmatism
  • Multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus lenses to reduce dependence on glasses
• What to expect before, during, and after surgery
• Anesthesia and comfort
• Recovery timeline

Most patients experience significant improvement in vision within days.

1. Stein, Joshua D. “Serious Adverse Events after Cataract Surgery.” Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, vol. 23, no. 3, May 2012, pp. 219–225.

Monitoring & Follow-Up

If your cataracts are mild, we will schedule routine follow-up visits every 6–12 months to monitor changes in vision and ensure safety with activities such as driving.

After cataract surgery, follow-up typically includes:

• A visit within 24 to 48 hours
• Additional checks at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 month
• Long-term monitoring for lens stability and overall eye health

Most patients enjoy clearer vision and improved quality of life after surgery.