What are cataracts?

Cataracts are a clouding over of the eyes’ natural lenses. They’re a normal part of the aging process, developing slowly and causing few problems in their early stages. However, over time they mature and the cloudiness increases, causing serious difficulty with many of your everyday activities, from reading and driving to playing golf and watching television. Without intervention, cataracts can lead to a significant loss of sight and eventually, if left untreated, to blindness.

Over the past 20 years, under the direction of board certified Ophthalmologist and Cornea Specialist, Dr. Frank W. Bowden III, the cataract team at Bowden Eye Associates has helped thousands enjoy the benefits of advances in cataract surgery – better vision and a reduced dependence on glasses. Our work has earned us the reputation as one of the premiere centers for cataract surgery in Jacksonville and Orange Park.

Know the Symptoms

At first, the symptoms of cataracts can be subtle, so it’s important to be aware of them. Typically, you’ll notice your vision getting cloudy or blurry. It becomes increasingly difficult to see at night, particularly when driving. You’ll experience glare or halos from oncoming headlights. Colors begin to seem faded or dull. You become more sensitive to light. With some types of cataracts you may experience, for a short time, improved vision called “second sight”. However, it’s short lived and the cloudiness will soon worsen.

Know When it’s Time For Cataract Surgery

When cataracts first occur you may be able to get by with new glasses, strong bifocals, magnification or careful use of lighting. But you should seriously consider cataract surgery when:

So while deciding when to have cataract surgery is a personal decision, once a cataract has formed, surgery is the only way to restore clear vision.

Here’s the good news: it’s a simple, relatively painless procedure that can be done in matter of minutes at our Surgery Center. In fact, it’s probably the safest, most effective surgery performed today. It’s also the most commonly performed surgery in the United States – more than 3 million people have it done every year – and at Bowden Eye Associates we’re able to restore vision to 20/40 or better in 95 percent of our patients.

Preserve and protect your gift of sight. To schedule a consultation with a physician at Bowden Eye Associates to discuss your risk of cataracts, click here or contact one of our offices in Jacksonville or Orange Park at (904)296-0098.

Common Questions About Cataracts

We’ve listed the most frequently asked questions and answers about cataracts and lens replacement as a convenient resource for you. We hope you’ll find them helpful and informative. To answer any questions you may not find here, please call (904)296-0098 to speak with a Bowden Eye Counselor or contact us online.

For your eyes, you want the confidence you are being cared for by a highly trained surgeon in a practice that meets or exceeds FDA treatment standards. Dr. Bowden is now North Florida’s Exclusive Vision Lock Provider for Cataract Surgery. Each Physician Providing VisionLock Has: