What is a cataract?

Acataract is the normal aging change of the lens inside the eye. The natural lens starts clear and gradually becomes sti and cloudy over time. As the lens changes, the vision diminishes.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A CATARACT?

In most cases, people report not seeing as well and think they need a glasses change. Sometimes they have speci c complaints like glare or trouble with oncoming lights while driving. Others may notice the need for brighter lighting for reading. I think the biggest thing is if you’re having a vision change or problem, it’s worthwhile to get checked to see what’s going on. From there, if cataract is the problem, we have great xes, so people shouldn’t feel scared or worried about getting evaluated and exploring options to help them see better for the rest of their life.

WHAT ARE PATIENT’S OPTIONS WHEN CHOOSING CATARACT SURGERY?

When we do cataract surgery, we remove the cloudy cataractous lens and replace it with an arti cial lens. The options available to people are related to how we set up the focus at the time of surgery. The advanced lens choices allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Additionally, there are advanced lens options that provide range of vision. These range based lenses allow for the eye to see distance, intermediate, and up close without glasses!

HOW DOES A PATIENT’S LIFE CHANGE AFTER SURGERY?

The biggest change noticed is general improvement and consistency with vision across di erent lighting environments. Patients report feeling more con dent and comfortable with their vision overall. Additionally, patients report an improvement in seeing contrast and color, and for those that choose to have less dependence on glasses, not having to constantly worry about where they are, is a big change.

WHAT IS THE RECOVERY TIME AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?

Most patients feel comfortable within a few days to one week. Restrictions are minimal and only last for one week. Drops are used for a couple of weeks to aid in the healing process.

Expert: DR. JODIE A. ARMSTRONG, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Board Certi ed Ophthalmologist at Ocala Eye, specializing in Cataract Surgery

1950 Laurel Manor Drive, Ste 250 The Villages 352.430.3356 / ocalaeye.com

How would you explain what internal medicine encompasses?

Internal Medicine deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of internal disease and basically covers everything you don’t need a specialist for, like high blood pressure that responds to medications or orthopedic issues patients may be having that don’t require a joint replacement. I practice Internal Medicine with a focus on preventing disease, and not needing medications by way of improving lifestyle, which includes things like smoking cessation, losing weight, and taking steps towards preventing diabetes, rather than waiting to treat it.

WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREATING PATIENTS IN A HOSPITAL OR VA SETTING VERSUS PRIVATE PRACTICE?

After working in the private practice sector for a time after graduating medical school and completing my internship and residency training in Internal Medicine, I was a ight surgeon with the United States Air Force for three years. I then continued my service with the VA providing healthcare to veterans for the past 11 years. I got back into private practice in October 2022 and I’m loving it because private practice allows me to do things well that I couldn’t do as well working with the VA. It also allows doctors the exibility to be more responsive to patients’ needs and service them with the mindset that the patient certainly comes rst. In private practice, it’s easier to go the extra yard.

WHY IS A GOOD DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IMPORTANT?

When patients feel comfortable with and trust their doctor, they will be more open about what is going on with them health-wise. When working with my patients, I try to get to know them, and I strive to make them feel at ease, but in reality, it kind of all depends on what the patient likes. If the patient is jocular, we can make jokes all day long. Some patients are more reserved however, so with them, it may be a little more cut-and-dry. I try to remember that some patients may want a little more explanation about things, so basically, my job entails translating medicine back into English so that a patient can understand it, know what they’re up against, and know how to treat it. That’s the bottom line.

I practice Internal Medicine with a focus on preventing disease, and not needing medications by way of improving lifestyle.