For many people past the age of 50, it is likely they will be told by their Ophthalmologist that they have cataracts. It is so common among aging adults that the National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates nearly 70 percent of Americans aged 80 and up will develop cataracts. Cataracts is a condition in which the eye’s lens becomes clouded and is not helped by wearing eyeglasses, contact lenses, or through surgical procedures such as LASIK.
Cataract Surgery Honolulu typically restores lost vision due to cataracts and might reduce eyeglass dependency as well. In the early stages, vision may be helped by wearing strong bifocals, using a magnifying lens for certain tasks, or enhanced lighting. Surgery should be strongly considered when these aids lose their effectiveness and vision loss impacts your daily life. Poor vision may be a side-effect of aging, but having surgery to correct cataracts is a nearly painless surgical procedure to negate vision loss.
The onset of cataracts is subtle and impacts one’s vision very little at first. As the condition progresses, one might notice occasional blurring of vision, colors that don’t appear as vibrant anymore, or the light from the sun or a lamp might seem too intense or glaring. During nighttime driving, sensitivity to oncoming headlights might also be experienced. The form of cataracts the develops directly effects the symptoms produced. The best course of action when symptoms first appear is to schedule an appointment with the Hawaii Vision Clinic in Honolulu for an exam.
Fortunately for cataracts patients, Cataract Surgery Honolulu offers a high rate of success in restoring one’s vision. In fact, cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed in the United States, with an average of three million procedures a year. Ninety percent of individuals undergoing cataract surgery experience restored vision of between 20/20 and 20/40. With outcomes like that, it’s no surprise that so many of these procedures are performed annually.
During the Cataract Surgery Honolulu, the surgeon will extract the cloudy lens and insert a new, artificial lens referred to as an IOL, or intraocular lens. The surgery itself lasts less than 20 minutes and requires no overnight hospitalization as it is done on an outpatient basis. Once the new lens is in place, the incision may or may not be stitched, and a patch is placed over the eye and worn for a few days after the procedure for protection. Typical recovery time is about one month. Browse website for more information.
