Normal vision without cataracts	Blurred, foggy or fuzzy vision with cataracts

Chicago Cataract Surgeon
Stuart Sondheimer, MD

Cataract surgery in Chicago is one of the most successful surgical procedures performed today in the United States. Dr. Stuart Sondheimer has been on the leading edge, offering the newest technology of this microsurgical procedure as it has evolved. He has performed many thousands of cataract removals and insertions of intraocular lenses to restore clear, sharp vision for patients.

A cataract causes poor vision and can ultimately result in blindness if not removed. In the early stages, patients complain of vision that is a little fuzzy or blurred. This is because the eye's natural crystalline lens is becoming cloudy, or opaque. As the cataract grows, so does the list of symptoms, i.e., foggy vision, faded colors, problems with glare, difficulty seeing television, and feeling as though you are looking through a veil or film. As cataracts advance, many people with report needing to change their glasses prescription frequently, especially for stronger lenses.

If you are suffering from poor vision and believe cataracts may be the problem, make an appointment to have your eyes examined. Chicago cataract surgeon, Dr. Sondheimer will use an ophthalmoscope to closely examine the retina (back portion of the eye), and a special slit lamp microscope to view the front portion of the eye.

When do you need to consider surgery? When poor vision interferes with your lifestyle and limits your activities. Some cataracts grow faster than others, so you may be able see well with stronger glasses for some time.

To remove a cataract, Dr. Sondheimer uses numbing drops in the eye to anesthetize it for patient comfort. There are no uncomfortable shots or needles. He makes a carefully constructed incision and then fragments the cloudy lens (cataract) of the eye using ultrasound waves. He then gently vacuums the fragmented cataract away, and a new intraocular lens is inserted. Because of the specially constructed incision, there is generally no need for stitches, and the incision is left to heal naturally. Patients may return to most normal activities almost immediately.

In addition to helping Chicago cataract patients, Dr. Sondheimer has extensive experience providing other vision-related services. He is one of the most sought after Chicago LASIK surgeons in addition to helping many glaucoma patients with their vision needs.