Eye Excellence
HOUSTON, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in adults. Cataracts are also very common. Approximately 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, and half of people 80 and older will develop cataracts in their lifetimes.
A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye's natural crystalline lens. This lens focuses light rays onto the retina, which communicates images to the brain. After the cataract starts to cloud the lens, it is impossible to return the lens to its clear state with medications without cataract surgery.
"Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. In most situations, they are easily removed," says Dr. Mary Green, M.D., Ph.D. "Today we use no shots, no stitches and no patches, and surgery generally is very quick." Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States, with over 1.6 million procedures performed annually.
"If there was ever a period in human existence to have cataract surgery, now is the best time. Today, cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, and recovery time is very fast," continues Dr. Green. "We replace the cataract lens with a new state-of-the-art lens implant. Some of these implants offer patients far and near vision restoration. These Premium Lens Implants allow patients to do most things without glasses. It's a great feeling not only to restore my patients' vision, but also to give them great spectacle independence."
So how do you know if you have a cataract? Dr. Green explains, "Most patients start to notice issues while driving at night, a loss of color, loss of detail, or patients see significant changes in eyeglass prescriptions during their annual eye exams."
Dr. Green says, "The time to have a cataract removed is not when it becomes 'ripe' as was the case in the past. Now, we will remove the cataract when it begins to interfere with a patient's vision."
Regardless of popular belief, lasers are not used to remove mature cataracts. However, a 'Yag' laser is used to remove a 'secondary cataract', which is a film that sometimes develops later in life after having a cataract removed.
To learn more about cataracts or to schedule a cataract exam, contact Eye Excellence at (713) 521-EYES or www.EyeExcellence.com.
CONTACT: Paul M. Stubenbordt, +1-682-831-0900, Fax, +1-682-831-0903,
[email protected]
Web site: http://www.eyeexcellence.com/