(ARA) - If you were born before 1950, chances are you are reading this with the help of reading glasses. Chances are you also may be developing a cataract. Age-related eye cataracts are a progressive condition and cannot be prevented -- it is thought that everyone will develop a cataract at some point in their lives and onset begins around age 50.

"Many conditions affect people as they age, and eye cataracts are one of the most common," says Dr. Robert Lehmann, ophthalmologist and director of Lehmann Eye Center. "Eye cataract sufferers may find that the "clouding" of the eye's lens that identifies a cataract interferes with their quality of vision and makes normal activities such as driving a car, reading a newspaper or seeing people's faces increasingly difficult."

While not all cataracts require surgery, it is the most effective treatment and one of the safest and most common surgical procedures performed. The actual surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL)."The vast majority of patients who undergo eye cataract surgery today receive monofocal IOLs, which typically require them to use reading glasses or bifocals for near vision following surgery," Dr. Lehmann says. "

The good news is that lens technology has taken a giant leap forward. Now, the objective is not simply to improve patients' distance vision, but rather to enhance their vision with a lens that provides them with a range of quality vision. We are finding that this type of platform is allowing patients to abandon their glasses and enhance their lifestyle."

Dr. Lehmann says the most dynamic product of this type is the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL, a multifocal lens that treats both cataracts and presbyopia -- another age-related condition that hampers people's ability to see or read near objects -- forcing the need for reading glasses or bifocals.In clinical trials, four out of five patients who received the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL in both eyes reported never wearing their glasses or bifocals following surgery.

Romance novelist Mary Lynn Baxter, of Lufkin, Texas, went to see Dr. Lehmann when her cataracts began to interfere with her work. Baxter explained to Dr. Lehmann how she was having difficulty viewing her computer and was unable to complete her latest novel. After diagnosing her with cataracts, Dr. Lehmann discussed the lens options with Baxter and the benefits of a multifocal lens.

Baxter chose to have the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL implanted, allowing her the opportunity to be glasses free after surgery. Baxter is thrilled with her results."The most incredible thing I've ever done was to throw my contacts away," says Baxter. "This surgery changed my life."

As Baxter found, there are many options for cataract surgery and that her choice might not be right for everyone. Alternate options include monofocal lenses that provide cataract patients with pre-existing astigmatism distance vision without the aid of glasses following surgery, and other monofocal lenses that provide clear vision after surgery for patients who are not eligible to receive a mulitfocal lens, per their doctor's discretion."

With these new options on the market, doctors can ensure that their patients aren't just getting rid of a cataract, but also improving their quality of life following cataract surgery," says Dr. Lehmann. "I encourage everyone to speak to their doctor about the options they have for better vision."