Today, more than any time in history, elderly people are enjoying exciting lifestyles. New attitudes keep people in the mainstream of life much longer, with travel, sports, theater, hobbies, work and family. All of these cause a feeling of fulfillment that is as precious as life itself. DeHaven Eye Clinic is dedicated to helping you lead a full and rich life by restoring to you the joy of sight.

Cataracts are these leading cause of curable blindness in the United States, and are primarily a disease of the elderly. Cataracts will develop in almost everyone eventually and this constitutes a problem for 90 percent of people over 70 years of age. Although the fear of blindness is second only to fear of death, hundreds of thousands of elderly people lack information on cataract removal that will help them lead active lives.

What Is A Cataract?

Normal Eye

The eye is an extremely versatile tool. It can discern a golf ball at more than 300 yards and then change focus to read a golf score card held a few inches away. It can adjust to variations in the intensity of light and distinguish thousands of color variations. The lens of the eye is often compared to the lens of a camera. If the lens of the camera is dirty or smudged, the picture will come out blurred. If the lens of the eye has become cloudy, vision is blurred.

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens caused by a breakdown of protein molecules. Many patients believe that a cataract is a film over the surface of the eye that can be peeled off or treated with drops. Unfortunately, this is not true. In the early stages of a cataract, there may be only slight interference with vision, but as the cataract progress, images become increasingly hazy. Cataracts will gradually impair the individual's ability to function normally.

Lens with cataract

Symptoms To determine if you have a cataract, a diagnostic evaluation must be made by an eye care professional. Early warning signs of cataracts include:

1. A film that seems to dim your vision.
2. Vision which is blurred, dulled or has a yellow haze.
3. Distorted images.
4. A disturbing glare from bright lights, such as oncoming headlights.
5. A halo around light sources.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is advisable to have a complete eye examination. In some cases, a cataract requires immediate surgery. If the cataract has caused, or is about to cause the eye to become acutely inflamed, or if it poses a serious threat of glaucoma, prompt surgery is indicated. In the great majority of cases, patients know when they need help. Unfortunately, perhaps because of their fear of the unknown, many patients allow their lives to be severely affected before deciding to have cataract surgery.

Contrary to what many people believe, it is not necessary to wait for the cataract to "ripen." Modern surgical techniques for cataracts permit the safe removal of a cataract at any stage of development. It is not necessary for patients to wait until the cataract is seriously impairing their sight. Considering individual visual needs is most important.

Cataract Extraction With Lens Implant

Modern technology makes this procedure among the safest. Cataract surgeries are done on an outpatient basis. The patient is awake at all times and the surgery is virtually painless.

Lens removed leaving capsular bag

One of the most common surgical procedures used by DeHaven Eye Clinic is Phacoemulsification. This technique enables the specially-trained surgeon to remove the cataract through a tiny incision of approximately 3mm (about 1/8 of an inch) instead of the routine 3/4 of an inch incision. This is made possible by a highly sophisticated surgical system consisting of a probe about the size of a ballpoint pen, which vibrates 1/1000 of an inch at 40,000 cycles per second. This ultrasonic vibration breaks up the cataract into fine particles. These particles are drawn through the opening by a finely regulated suction. The eye is kept filled with a sterile saline solution which replaces the amount of material withdrawn.

The very small incision (often referred to as "ONE STITCH" or "NO STITCH" Cataract Surgery) allows for quick healing. Most patients can resume routine daily activities immediately following surgery.

By the removing the cataract with Phacoemulsification, the capsule can be preserved. The support of the natural capsule reduces the possibility of both retinal and corneal complications. A new, clear plastic lens can then be inserted inside this natural capsule. Intraocular lens implants most closely simulate natural vision. They are permanent and do not require maintenance. Another method is the extra-capsular method. This method uses a slightly larger incision, and has been providing proven results for years.

IOL in capsular bag

The method the doctor selects for you will be based on your individual needs and designed to give you the best surgical result.

After Surgery

Cataract patients can have outpatient surgery and return home within hours afterward. By the next morning most of these patients are able to return to their regular routines.

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