Bob Puzio had no reason to think anything was wrong with his vision.

The Morris Township, New Jersey, retiree led an active lifestyle, traveling with family and pursuing his hobbies as a documenter and collector of craft brewing memorabilia. To him, the way he saw the world was no different from anyone else.

“One thing you find out is that you could be clueless that your vision is anything but normal,” Puzio said. “I could identify colors as white. They didn’t look dingy yellow to me, so I don’t know if my brain was compensating or not.”

“A Triple Whammy” Diagnosis

A cataract is a hazing of the eye lens that impedes passing light into the eye. At first, the cloudiness may affect only a small part of the lens, and you may be unaware that you are developing vision loss.

Dr. Eric Mann, an ophthalmologist with Ridgedale Surgery Center in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, diagnosed Puzio with cataracts in both eyes and glaucoma during a comprehensive eye exam.

“If anything, I thought that my vision had been getting better as I aged,” Puzio said. “So that news was a triple whammy that I was not prepared to hear.”

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among people older than 55. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over half of all Americans will develop cataracts by age 75.

If not treated, cataracts may impair or cause complete loss of vision. At first, stronger eyeglass prescriptions can help deal with cataracts, but as Dr. Mann noted, many patients will reach a point where surgery becomes their best option.

“We can often tweak glasses to work around different changes in prescriptions, but at some point, glasses can’t be tweaked any further,” Dr. Mann said. “Robert had received steady changes to his prescription, but he was still presenting issues, and we couldn’t run the risk of waiting too long and there being complications.”

Patient Undergoes Cataract Surgery

Unlike other eye diseases like glaucoma, doctors can remove cataracts to restore eyesight. The operation includes removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one, called an intraocular lens (IOL). The construction of an IOL involves using silicone, acrylic or other plastic materials and frequently applying a protective coating against UV rays.

“Cataracts are a natural clouding and graying of that lens inside the eye,” Dr. Mann said. “Patients describe it as a fuzz or blur you’d normally fix by cleaning your eyeglasses. But it’s not glasses: it’s the lens inside your eye that’s turning gray, and we can go in and replace that with a man-made lens.”

In late 2023, Puzio underwent a glaucoma procedure at Ridgedale Surgery Center in Cedar Knolls. Two cataract surgeries — one in each eye — followed, performed by Dr. Mann in January and February 2024.

Puzio said the improvement to his vision was obvious in the weeks between his cataract procedures. Taking advantage of a snowfall that had blown through his area, he tested what his “new” right eye could see.

“Just for kicks, I put my hand to my right eye, and the snow looked like it was yellow straw colored through my left eye,” Puzio remarked. “I did the opposite and that same snow looked as bright as an LED light.

“Seeing the difference in my vision was a total ‘whoa’ moment.”

Now months removed from treatment, Puzio is back at his hobbies and enjoying spending time with his wife and children. Cataract surgery, he said, has changed the way he sees the world.

“When Dr. Mann told me that I needed surgery as soon as possible, I thought, ‘Why?’ But now, everything I see is sharper, brighter and clearer.

“I’m really seeing the world in a completely new light.”

Surgery Centers Benefit Patients

Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most common and most effective surgical procedures performed in the United States, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute. This outpatient surgery only takes a few hours from the time you arrive at the center until you go home, allowing you to return to your life. The surgery itself takes less than 30 minutes.

Dr. Mann said the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting is ideal for cataract procedures, as ASCs offer patients a more comfortable environment, shorter wait times and a decreased ratio of patients to nurses that leads to more personalized care.

“One of the strengths of an ASC setting is that each patient is treated as an individual,” he said. “Our staff is with you every step of the way, from registration and pre-op to the procedure and then post-op and out the door. We even walk you outside of the recovery room and to your transportation.”

Puzio valued the personalized care he received at Ridgedale Surgery Center. Dr. Mann and his staff treated Puzio with care and compassion at each step of the process, easing his hesitation to undergo surgery after an eye injury in his youth.

“When people would get close to my eyes, I would spasm — I just couldn’t control it,” he said. “But everyone I encountered was empathetic and professional. The worst pain I felt was when I got the IV; it was easier than going to the dentist.”

Schedule Your Comprehensive Eye Exam

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S., affecting more than 24 million Americans. Symptoms may include the following:

• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Lamps and headlights seem too glaring and bright
• Seeing halos around lights

All adults older than 40 should get a complete eye exam with dilation. Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to evaluate your eye health and screen for cataracts. Your doctor will also give you a visual acuity test, look for refractive errors and screen you for common eye conditions and vision problems.

Find an Ophthalmologist Near You

Are you looking for a board-certified ophthalmologist? Our eye care centers are located across the country and are accepting new patients. Healthy vision is a precious gift that requires regular maintenance!

In the mid-1980s, Brad Schneider relied on his vision to study and to play baseball at the University of Evansville.

One day during batting practice for the Purple Aces, Schneider turned to bunt a baseball coming out of a pitching machine. The ball tipped off his bat into his left eye.

“The blow tore my iris and my eye filled with blood, blinding me for a few days,” Schneider said. “It was scary, but the blood finally dissipated, and my vision returned. To this day there’s a tiny, loose flap on the edge of my left iris, a remnant of the injury.”

Nearly 40 years later, Schneider serves as the Judge-Executive, the head of county government, in Henderson County, Kentucky. About three years ago, he noticed driving home from work at night became challenging.

“The glare bouncing back off streetlights or high headlights was really a problem,” Schneider said.

During a comprehensive eye exam last year, Schneider’s optometrist discovered cataracts developing in his eyes. Cataracts form when proteins clump together and create a cloudy or blurry spot on the lens of the eye.

Most cataracts form as a natural part of aging. For Schneider’s left eye, the catalyst likely was his baseball injury, according to his doctor. Eye injuries can cause cataracts in up to 65 percent of cases, leading to both short-term and long-term vision problems.

“Normally age 58 is not when you really notice the effects of cataracts, but that injury sped up the timeline a little for me,” Schneider said. “We noticed that changes in my prescription glasses — which I’ve worn since I was eight years old — weren’t really helping the vision in my left eye anymore. And, in fact, it was getting cloudier.”

Schneider learned that increasing the prescription on his glasses would not be a long-term solution for his vision.

“Cataracts were the culprit,” he said. “That diminished vision, the cloudiness, was not going to improve without cataract surgery.”

Cataracts Cause Vision Loss

Cataracts affect more than 20.5 million Americans aged 40 and older. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.; however, surgery can remove cataracts and correct the vision problems they create.

Surgeons perform nearly four million cataract surgeries annually in the U.S. During the 10-15 minute surgery, a doctor replaces the cloudy lens of a patient’s eye with an artificial lens. This intraocular lens (IOL) is a clear, plastic lens that becomes a permanent part of the eye.

Schneider elected to undergo cataract surgery on both eyes at the EyeCare Consultants Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgery center in Evansville, Indiana.

“It really gave me confidence that this could be something that would make the rest of my life much more enjoyable, and if I followed their instructions on recovery, […] I would really be pleased with the outcome,” he said. “And that is absolutely what happened.”

Select an Intraocular Lens to Meet Your Needs

Based on his visual needs and lifestyle, Schneider selected extended depth of focus IOLs. Health insurance plans do not cover the additional expense of these premium lenses. Studies show 80-90 percent of patients who have this type of IOL do not have to wear glasses post-procedure.

“As somebody who’s worn glasses since they were a kid, it’s never been convenient,” Schneider said. “I am sure that people have great experiences with basic lenses. They’re covered under their health insurance. That’s terrific, but in this case, paying a little bit more paid off for me.”

Schneider’s first cataract surgery was on Nov. 30, 2023. Three days later, his vision began to clear in his left eye after the initial swelling had subsided.

“I stepped out the back door, and the vision out of my left eye almost startled me how good it was at that point,” he said. “I remember looking up at the trees in our backyard and not only could I see the leaves at the very top of the trees, but I could [also] see the points in the leaves at the top of the trees. That was not an experience I’d ever had without glasses, and it was revelatory. It really was. It took me aback, and I couldn’t wait to get the right [eye] done at that point.”

Two weeks later, the cataract was removed successfully from Schneider’s right eye.

Having worn prescription eyeglasses since he was a child, Schneider now no longer needs them. Just six months after cataract surgery, he said his vision is the best it has been in adulthood — even driving at night.

“The improvement in my vision is really tremendous,” he said.

Choose an Ambulatory Surgery Center for Cataract Surgery

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), like EyeCare Consultants Surgery Center, have offered safe, high-quality outpatient medical procedures for decades. Schneider said he would recommend surgery at an ASC to anyone who has vision problems caused by cataracts.

“Number one, it’s safe,” he said. “Having surgery on your eyes is scary for anybody, but the skill of surgeons now is amazing. They are experts. They do this many, many times a week.”

After positive outcomes for both eyes, Schneider, now 59, recommends cataract surgery for anyone experiencing difficulties seeing during their daily activities.

“Listen to your optometrist, and then take the time to visit with an ophthalmologist whose team will fill you in and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision,” he said. “I would recommend having cataract surgery. It’s changed my life.”

Schedule an Eye Exam to Protect Your Vision

Now is the perfect time to focus on your eyesight. During a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist looks at both your eye health and your vision. Your eye doctor will check your vision and test for common eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Our eye care professionals are committed to preserving and restoring your vision for the future. Find a center near you to schedule your comprehensive eye exam.

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This article is designed for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health concern or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health concern, you should consult your healthcare provider.

About 28.3 million people in the United States smoke cigarettes. Smoking causes disability and disease and damages almost every organ system in the body. We’ve known for decades that smoking can cause health problems and damage the eyes, but the combination of smoking and vaping can pose a heightened threat to eye tissues.

How Are E-Cigarettes Different Than Cigarettes?

Regular tobacco cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. E-cigarettes heat nicotine from tobacco, flavorings and chemicals to create an aerosol. Vaping is more popular among young people. Reports indicate, however, that 40 percent of high school and middle school students use two or more tobacco products.

“Vaping has risks that are different from smoking,” said J. Kevin McKinney, MD. “Vaping solutions often have much higher nicotine levels than cigarettes. While they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, they do have other chemicals with known and unknown negative effects. We are still learning the type and magnitude of the risks of e-cigarettes.”

Study Reports More Severe Symptoms for Dual Users

A recent study found that young people who smoke and vape are more likely to experience pain, redness, dryness, blurred vision, headaches and sensitivity to light. Symptoms were worse for adolescents and young adults who smoked both cigarettes and e-cigarettes, compared with those who only smoked one type.

The study examined more than 4,000 people aged 13-24 about their smoking habits in the last month, week or ever. About 900 participants said they smoked cigarettes and/or vaped in the last week.

Among the respondents who vaped, 55.9 percent said they also used cigarettes. Dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes had more frequent and severe eye symptoms compared to users of only one type of product.

The research team suspects that eye issues caused by vaping and cigarettes are being caused by oxidative damage. When combustion occurs in cigarettes and the e-cigarette solvent propylene glycol, the reaction creates free radicals, causing oxidative stress, which damages the eye surface.

The findings of this study were observational and cannot confirm that dual use definitely causes eye damage, but they do provide additional strong reasons to stop smoking or never begin the habit.

Smoking and Vaping Can Worsen Existing Eye Conditions

If you have eye problems presently, smoking or vaping could exacerbate them. Here are some eye issues that could get worse with the use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes:

1. Dry eye — Smoking can leave your eyes feeling more irritated, scratchy or stinging.
2. Diabetic retinopathy — Smokers who have diabetes are more likely to damage the blood vessels of the eyes, which causes blurred vision and vision loss.
3. Cataracts — Smoking increases oxidative stress, which may cause cataracts to form more quickly.
4. Optic nerve problems — Smoking can damage the optic nerve, which sends visual images to the brain. Glaucoma is a family of diseases characterized by optic nerve damage.
5. Macular degeneration — This is a problem with the central retina, the part of the eye that allows us to see images clearly. There is a strong link between smoking and the worsening of macular degeneration.

Schedule Annual Comprehensive Eye Exams

Your eye health is a gift that is easy to take for granted. We rely on clear vision to do almost every task in our day. Annual eye exams are essential because good eyesight can improve the quality of day-to-day life.

At a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will check for the following:

• Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism
• Focusing problems like presbyopia (gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects)
• Eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Do You Need an Eye Doctor? We Can Help.

If it has been over a year since your last comprehensive eye exam, you should make an appointment for an eye exam with dilation. Many people assume they only need to see an eye doctor when they have vision problems, but issues can develop slowly and without notice. Eye diseases are not always symptomatic in the early stages, but an eye doctor can diagnose them sooner when they are easier to treat.

Make a new commitment to healthy vision and make eye appointments for your whole family. If you need a new ophthalmologist, we can help locate an eye doctor in your area. A healthy lifestyle and annual eye examinations will help you preserve your vision for years to come.

You use vision more than any of your senses, but how well are you caring for your eyes? Your movements, activities and interactions all rely on your ability to see clearly. Protecting your eyes helps lower the chances of vision loss, blindness and the development of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.

Schedule Annual Comprehensive Eye Exams

Lots of people assume they only need to go to the eye doctor if they have a vision problem. However, many eye conditions do not have symptoms in the early stages. Diseases like glaucoma can develop without notice but can cause permanent eye damage. Gradually, glaucoma reduces the visual field, but most people don’t notice the loss in peripheral vision.

Yearly comprehensive eye exams will allow your doctor to diagnose and treat eye conditions early to prevent vision loss. Diabetic eye disease is another common condition that can damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Detecting eye changes caused by diabetes at an early stage can significantly decrease the chances of blindness by 60 to 90 percent.

Protect Your Eyes from the Elements, Objects and Digital Devices

The eye is a small, delicate part of the body and can sustain injury quite easily. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can damage part of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for central vision. Wearing sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays can help prevent macular damage.

Safety goggles can protect your eyes from foreign objects while gardening, woodworking or playing sports. Safety goggles are not expensive, and it is wise to buy several pairs and have them accessible in your garage, car and utility room.

Digital eye strain will not permanently affect your vision, but it can be irritating or painful. Staring at screens can reduce blink rate and cause dry eye. To address this issue, you can experiment with placing a sticky note on your monitor or scheduling a prompt on your mobile device to encourage frequent blinking.

Whenever you are using digital devices, it’s helpful to remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Commit to a Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise and nutrition are important for your overall wellness, but they’re also essential for optimum eye health. Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving.

According to the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-level exercise and two days of muscle strengthening activity each week. It’s all about getting up and moving. Adults who sit less and engage in exercise will enjoy health benefits (CDC).

Consuming foods abundant in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids can decrease the likelihood of developing conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eye as you grow older.

Here are some examples of nutrient-rich foods in each category (AAO):

• Vitamin C — oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, tomatoes, kiwifruit, broccoli and red and green peppers
• Vitamin E — almonds, avocadoes, olive oil and sunflower seeds
• Zinc — legumes (beans and lentils), seafood, meat, eggs and dairy
• Lutein and zeaxanthin — broccoli; asparagus; leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach and Swiss chard; papaya; peaches; raspberries and mangos

Call an Ophthalmologist for an Appointment

Quality vision care isn’t time-consuming or expensive. A regular eye exam takes about an hour, but it provides a whole year of benefits. Your ophthalmologist will give you a visual acuity test, check for refractive errors and evaluate your prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

You will also receive a screening for eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. When detected at an early stage, eye disease is easier to treat and less costly.

Find an Ophthalmologist in Your Area

Have you recently moved or need a new eye doctor? We have eye care centers all over the country and can assist you in locating a doctor near your residence. With proper care, you can have clear vision for years to come.