Cataracts
Our ability to see is one of life’s most precious gifts. Imagine what it would be like if we had to live in total darkness. Many of us are blessed with good vision. As we age, a number of us begin to develop problems with our eyes. This is especially true of the elderly. In many cases, the cause of the poor vision is a cataract. However, with today’s technology, a cataract is easily treated with over 98% success rate.
What is a Cataract?
- When the lens on your eye becomes cloudy, this is known as a cataract.
- Like a camera, our eye uses film to take a picture and a lens to focus the picture.
- The film is actually the nerve of your eye, the lens just like that of a camera.
What are the Symptoms?
- Decreased vision.
- Pain is not a normal symptom of a cataract.
- Increased glare in sunlight or at night.
- A sensation of having a film over the eyes.
Are You at Risk of Developing Cataracts?
- Cataracts are most predominant among people over the age of 60.
- People who are diabetic or have taken steroid medicines are prone to cataracts.
- Healthy people under 60 can also develop cataracts.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
- There are no eye drops or medications to treat cataracts.
- Because of a lack of medical care, China and parts of Asia customarily use eye drops and medications, although they are not effective.
- Eyeglasses may be helpful in the early stages of cataracts.
- The only effective treatment is a painless 5-10 minute surgical procedure.
- Normally, an artificial lens is implanted in the eye during the outpatient surgery.
- Permanently replacing the cataracts, the lens causes no irritation and never has to be taken out.
What Method Does Dr. Fong Use?
- Dr. Fong has performed over 30,000 successful cataract operations.
- He uses the advanced, widely popular Phacoemulsification no-stitches technique.
- Under a local anesthesia, a small incision is made into the eye.
- An artificial lens implant is then inserted.
- With Dr. Fong’s experienced surgeon’s hands, the entire procedure can take only 5-10 minutes.
Who Needs Surgery?
- If your vision is impaired to the extent you no longer see normally, consider surgery.
- When you cannot see well doing things such as driving, reading, watching movies.
- It may be dangerous if you wait until your vision is completely blurred. Delaying further complicates the surgery.
What are After Effects of the Cataract Surgery?
- Once a cataract is removed, it never grows back.
- Once the eye has healed, some patients may need reading glasses, others a thin pair of distance glasses.
- Some patients can see very clearly a day to a week after surgery. Others take several weeks.
- Patients can begin using the eye the day after the surgery.
- There are no restrictions on activity after the surgery.
- No special diet is required.
Contact Us Through Our Cataract Hotline
