Posts Categorized: Cataract

The longer you live, the more likely it is that you will deal with cataracts. They are, to a large degree, an inevitable part of aging. At Eye Medical Clinic, we focus a great deal of our practice on the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts. And since June is Cataract Awareness Month, it’s a great time to take an even closer look at this common vision condition.

Check out these four facts you may not have known about cataracts:

1. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.
   According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that almost 30 million Americans have cataracts. That’s a lot of folks, and more than twice the total number of people with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration combined!
2. Cataracts affect more than just the elderly.
   Did you know that in rare cases, babies can be born with cataracts? It’s a condition known as congenital cataracts. While it’s true that cataracts most commonly affect older people, you can develop them at any age. The likelihood of developing cataracts doubles in your 50s and doubles again in your 60s. By the age of 80, more than half of Americans have cataracts.
3. Sun exposure increases your risk of developing cataracts.
   If you live in sunny San Jose, you need to know this: Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can promote cataract development. Always wear your UV-blocking sunglasses!
4. Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts.
   Cataracts cannot be treated with medication, eye drops or lifestyle changes. They must be surgically removed for vision to be restored. But good news! Modern cataract surgery is a safe and comfortable outpatient procedure. Gone are the days of hospital stays, stitches or eye patches.

Think you might be experiencing the symptoms of cataracts? Take our Cataract Self-Evaluation to find out for sure.

Choose an Experienced Cataract Surgeon

It’s true that cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today. But it’s still important to choose a surgeon with focused training, a lot of experience, a commitment to the most advanced, proven technology and who has a number of great outcomes as evidence.

Our board-certified ophthalmologists have many years of experience and have helped countless people regain their vision and their lives using modern cataract surgery techniques.

Advanced Technology Lens Implants Offer Opportunity for Visual Freedom

Major advances in lens exchange procedures allow people just like you to continue to live your life the way you want to live it. At Eye Medical Clinic, we offer a variety of Advanced Technology Lens Implants that can correct your cataracts AND get you out of your glasses or bifocals.

Advanced Technology Lenses are considered the gold standard in cataract lens replacements today. During traditional cataract surgery, a clear (monofocal) lens is used to replace the natural lens. This basic lens will allow you to see clearly at only one distance – near, intermediate or far. If you require glasses before your cataract surgery, you will still need them afterwards. Our advanced technology lens implants allow you to see clearly at all distances. Freedom!

If you’re someone who has worn glasses or contacts your whole life, post-cataract surgery vision with a premium lens implant may be considerably better than any vision you’ve ever experienced.

Ready to learn more about cataract surgery at Eye Medical Clinic? Schedule your cataract evaluation today.

What is Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and How is it Different Than Traditional Cataract Surgery?

You may have heard it said that if you live long enough, you’ll most likely deal with cataracts. And it’s true. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), about half the population in American develop cataracts by age 75. And as the U.S. population ages, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by the year 2020.

So let’s talk cataract facts – specifically, treatments considering cataracts will not resolve on their own and cannot be treated with medicine or lifestyle changes. Cataracts must be removed for vision to be restored.

Cataract Basics

A cataract is a progressive clouding of your eye’s natural lens. Cataract symptoms include cloudy vision, poor color recognition, glare from night driving and frequent prescription changes in glasses or contacts.

Cataract Treatments

If you need cataract surgery, most modern ophthalmology practices will offer you two choices regarding the surgical procedure itself – Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (sometimes called bladeless cataract surgery) or Traditional Cataract Surgery. To make the best decision for your vision goals and lifestyle, there are some things you should understand about both kinds of surgery.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed in the world today. Both traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery are recognized as being safe and effective treatments. Neither requires a hospital stay. But let’s look at little more closely at how each procedure works to restore your vision.

Traditional Cataract Surgery

With traditional cataract surgery, the surgeon creates a small incision in the side of the cornea by hand with a scalpel. A tiny instrument is inserted through this incision into the area where the cloudy lens sits. The surgeon then creates a circular opening in the lens capsule and a pen-shaped probe is inserted to apply sound waves (ultrasound) to break up the cloudy center of the lens. The pieces of the cloudy lens are gently removed from the eye. Finally, an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to replace the natural lens. The incision self-seals after surgery, so stitches are not needed.

Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

The most recent breakthrough in cataract surgery is the introduction of the cataract laser. With this type of cataract surgery, a camera/ultrasound imaging device is placed over the eye to map its surface and gather highly detailed information about the lens. This device sends the data to a computer that programs the laser for the exact location, size and depth of the incisions. The surgeon uses the laser to make the corneal incision and opening. Energy from the laser may also be used to soften the cataract.

Then the same ultrasound probe used in traditional cataract surgery is used to break the lens into pieces and gently remove them from the eye. The IOL is implanted. As with traditional cataract surgery, the corneal incision self heals and usually does not require stitches.

So What’s the Big Difference?

At Eye Medical Clinic, it is the opinion of our experienced surgeons that the technology used in laser-assisted cataract surgery adds to the safety, accuracy and precision of the procedure. Your eyes are unique! Bladeless cataract surgery allows for a procedure customized just for you! We are excited to offer the latest FDA-approved laser cataract technology for your cataract surgery procedure.

Unlike traditional bladed cataract surgery where the incisions are made by hand, the laser automates key steps of the cataract surgery procedure. The accompanying software system analyzes high-resolution images of your eye, helping your Eye Medical Clinic surgeon design and perform a fully customized procedure.

To further enhance accuracy at every turn, a patient interface connects your eye to the image-guided surgical unit, so both the computer and the surgeon operating it have precise, real-time images, throughout the entire procedure.

Schedule a free initial cataract consultation and screening today with the experts at Eye Medical Clinic. We will share all of our cataract surgery options to give you a clear idea of what will benefit your vision and lifestyle. At Eye Medical Clinic, we have been dedicated to helping the people of Santa Clara Valley with all their eye care needs for more than 70 years.

What to Expect After Cataract Surgery

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. Approximately half of Americans develop cataracts by age 75. And as the U.S. population ages, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by the year 2020.

That means, most likely, if you live long enough, you’ll deal with cataracts. So let’s talk cataract facts and what you can do to speed up cataract recovery after cataract removal.

Cataracts Basics

A cataract is a progressive clouding of your eye’s natural lens. Cataract symptoms include cloudy vision, poor color recognition, glare from night driving and frequent prescription changes in glasses or contacts.

Cause of Cataracts

In most cases, cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye’s lens.

In addition, there are a few inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems that can increase your risk of developing cataracts. Researchers have found that cataracts can also be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery and even medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medications can also cause cataracts to develop.

Cataract Treatment

It’s important to understand that cataracts cannot be treated with medication, eye drops or lifestyle changes. They must be removed for vision to be restored.

More than 2 million men and women undergo cataract surgery every year, making the procedure one of the most common and most successful medical procedures in the U.S. today. You can trust your eyes to the San Jose cataracts specialists at Eye Medical Clinic.

We are pleased to offer the latest advancements in treating cataracts including Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. We also offer Premium Lens Implant technologies that can correct your cataracts and get you out of those glasses. Premium Lens Implants can restore your vision to a greater degree, for instance correcting astigmatism and providing sharp vision at far, intermediate and near distances.

What Can You Do to Speed up Cataract Recovery

Laser-Assisted cataract surgery often takes no longer than about 10 minutes to perform. You will need to rest in a recovery area about 30 minutes to an hour post-op while the grogginess from sedation or anesthesia wears off. You must have someone on call to drive you home after the procedure. We provide a pair of sunglasses to wear on your trip home to protect your eye from bright light.

Within the same day of surgery, you should be able to resume normal daily activities: Computer work, light TV watching, showering. Here are some extra facts for a speedy cataract recovery:

• Take a nap if you are sleepy when you arrive home. Just remember to wear the protective eye shield your Eye Medical Clinic surgeon provides.
• Be careful moving around after surgery as it may take a little time for your vision to fully clear.
• Don’t drive the first day.
• Don’t rub your eye(s) for at least two weeks after surgery.
• You may resume your work or home duties (if you want to!).
• No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise activities for the first couple weeks.
• Avoid exposure to irritants such as dust and wind during the first couple weeks.
• Avoid swimming or using a hot tub during the first week.
• Attend your follow-up appointment with your cataract surgeon the day after the procedure to ensure no complications.

Most of our cataract surgery patients experience clear vision within several hours after their cataract surgery. But since each person heals differently, it may take a week or two before you see things in their sharpest focus.

Schedule a free initial cataract consultation and screening today with the experts at Eye Medical Clinic. We will share all of our cataract surgery options to give you a clear idea of what will benefit your vision and lifestyle. At Eye Medical Clinic, we have been dedicated to helping the people of Santa Clara Valley with all their eye care needs for more than 70 years.

So you know you need cataract surgery. The decision has been made. You may even already know this means the removal of the cloudy lens in your eye and replacement with a clear artificial lens (IOL).

What you may not know is that, until recently, you would have had very few choices of lenses used to restore your vision. But major advances in lens exchange procedures allow people just like you to continue to live your life the way they want to live it with improved vision, often better than what you had before cataract surgery.

At Eye Medical Clinic in San Jose, we offer a variety of the best Premium Lens Implants that can correct your cataracts AND reduce your dependency on glasses or bifocals.

Premium or Basic? Does it really matter?

There are lots of areas and products where you – the consumer – get to choose between basic or premium. Coach or first-class? Hey, it’s your trip. You get to decide how you want to take it. Basic black coffee or decadent French press with steamed milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon? Certainly your choice.

But eyes are a bit different. Think about how much you rely on your eyesight. Do you really want to choose between basic or premium where your vision is concerned? The truth is, Premium Lens Implants can restore the vision you’ve enjoyed your whole life (or even better!).

Although basic cataract surgery has been proven very successful at removing cataracts and replacing the eye’s natural lens with a clear lens, many people find they still need glasses, bifocals or multifocals in order to achieve their best vision after cataract surgery.

Compared to standard IOLs, Premium Lens Implants greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses after your cataract surgery procedure. The decision is easy. Wouldn’t you like to enjoy all the things you love to do with clear vision?!

Advantages of Premium Lenses

Start counting because there are a lot of them! Amazing advances in Premium Lens technology have made it possible for most people to attain clear vision at all distances and in most settings with greatly reduced dependency on glasses, bifocals and readers.

Specifically, Multifocal Lenses are created to improve distance and near focus, while Toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatism. Imagine enjoying all your daily activities like driving, golfing, crafting, reading, hiking, painting, swimming (and more!) free from the hassles and the hindrances of glasses, bifocals, trifocals and, in some cases, even readers!

With a premium lens implant, it’s possible! At Eye Medical Clinic, whatever your visual goal, there’s a lens for that. While there are no lens options that can definitively promise 20/20 vision at all distances, most patients who choose a Premium Lens Implant for their cataract surgery procedure at Eye Medical Clinic are glasses-free for most daily activities. And most are thrilled with their vision after cataract surgery.

Paying for Premium Lenses

The cost of basic cataract surgery with a basic lens is generally covered by Medicare as well as most private insurance providers. However, depending on which options and premium lens you choose, there may be some costs not covered by your insurance.

Our experienced team can help you maximize your benefits and select a financing plan that is comfortable for your budget for any portion of your cataract procedure not covered by Medicare or your private insurance.

Meet Our Experienced Cataract Surgeons

The best premium lens implants in San Jose in the hands of Eye Medical Clinic’s experienced cataract surgeons is a winning combination!

Mona Bagga, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist with deep experience in cataract treatment. She uses a combination of advanced medical, surgical and laser procedures to improve patients’ vision and quality of life. Dr. Bagga has completed more than 10,000 successful procedures, including laser-assisted cataract surgery with premium lens implants. She was one of the first two surgeons in the U.S. to implant the Tecnis Toric Lens.

John Sullivan, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with vast experience in cataract surgery. He holds a clinical professor faculty appointment in the ophthalmology department at the University of California-San Francisco where he shares teaching responsibilities training ophthalmology residents and oculoplastic fellows. Dr. Sullivan has served the people of Santa Rosa and San Jose at Eye Medical Clinic since 1973.

Ready to find out more about a custom-designed procedure that will give you the opportunity to enjoy your best personal vision after cataract surgery? Schedule an appointment at Eye Medical Clinic today.

Cataracts. They usually come with age, and there is no surefire way to know who will or won’t develop cataracts. The exact cause of cataracts is unclear. That’s especially true in cases of early cataracts. Most often, cataracts affect patients age 60 and older; however, there have been cases of cataracts reported in younger people as well.

Important cataracts fact: Cataracts affect over 24.4 million American age 40 and older, or about one in every six people in this age range. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have cataracts. It is the leading cause of blindness (Prevent Blindness America).

A cataract is a degenerative eye disorder that causes the clouding of the lens, leading to decreased vision.

“I stumble through a darkened vale, with a veil cast over me.
And cataracts, all is black. Oh, I see, but I can’t see…” (Thrice, 2011)

Among younger patients, the first signs of a cataract problem are increased difficulty seeing clearly at night or seeing colors as bold as intended; general sensitivity to light and glare; and hazy or clouded vision. Fact is, there are three common types of cataracts:

• Subcapsular, which occurs at the back of the lens
• Nuclear, which forms deep in the central zone, or nucleus, of the lens
• Cortical, which wedges its way in the periphery of the lens, eventually migrating to the center in a spoke-like fashion

Furthermore, modern medicine is not yet able to prevent cataracts from forming. Without intervention from San Jose cataracts specialists at Eye Medical Clinic, sight problems can become more progressive and can lead to significant vision loss—even blindness.

Causes of Early Cataracts

No one knows for sure why the eye’s lens changes as we age, but researchers have identified factors that may cause cataracts. Although early cataracts in young people are not the most common, it’s important to know the potential causes:

• Diabetes
• Family history
• Nearsightedness
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Oxidative changes in the lens due to poor diet
• Smoking
• Traumatic injury to the eye
• Use of steroidal medications
• Ultraviolet light exposure

According to the National Eye Institute, other causes of cataracts are labeled as secondary, traumatic, congenital and radiation-related.

A recent scientific theory about early cataracts claims the prolonged use of computers, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices may be advancing the development of vision problems, including cataracts, at earlier ages.

Reducing Risk and Cataract Treatment

As stated above, scientists propose that oxidative changes in the human lens cause cataract formation. Nutrition studies support this idea, citing that fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of certain types of cataracts. Consider a higher daily dietary intake of these foods: Vitamin E found in a wide variety of nuts and seeds; dark green, leafy vegetables and colorful fruits (think broccoli, spinach, berries); antioxidants such as vitamin C and beta-carotene; and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids such as fish.

As far as treatment goes, cataracts must be surgically removed to restore vision. Cataract surgery is one of the most routine corrective eye surgeries performed in the United States with more than 3.6 million procedures each year (Review of Ophthalmology).

In short, blade-free is the only way to go in removing a cataract. Eye Medical Clinic is pleased to offer the latest technologies including Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery—a safe procedure in which your eye’s clouded lens is gently removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant. The lens stays in your eye permanently. You won’t be able to feel the new lens, and it is not visible. The in-office procedure takes a few minutes and is virtually painless. The majority of patients report great success in restoring vision to 20/20.

Seeing at the Next Level

Eye Medical Clinic also offers a variety of Premium Lens Implants that can remove your cataracts and allow the opportunity to be free from glasses or bifocals, too. Specifically, Multifocal Lenses aim to improve distance and near focus, while Toric Lenses correct astigmatism.

Our very own Dr. Mona Bagga is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist who has completed more than 10,000 successful cataract surgeries. To find out more about cataracts and how we treat them, schedule an initial screening today with Eye Medical Clinic, San Jose cataracts specialists. We thank you and your eyes will thank you.