Common Myths about Cataracts & Cataract Surgery

Many people in the United States assume that cataracts only plague the elderly. However, it is important to recognize the signs & take preventative measures against cataracts at a much earlier age than you might suspect. Some men & women in their 40s, 50s, & even 30s may experience some vision abnormalities due to cataracts without knowing the cause. If the problem persists, cataract surgery may be necessary in order to save the patients’ vision.

In Las Vegas cataract surgery  is very common and has progressed greatly since the older days. Now with newer technology, the surgery takes less than an hour and is minimally-invasive, so healing takes much less time. Still thousands of Americans suffer from cataracts without knowing what they are, why they appeared, & how or when they need to be removed.

A cataract is the clouding of the natural clear lens inside the eye. Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty with glare and other visual changes. A Las Vegas Cataract Surgeon described vision with cataracts as looking through a dirty windshield.

The truth is, almost everyone will have some type of vision loss due to aging. The natural lens is mostly made of water and protein arranged in a way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it so that we can see clearly. As we age, some of the protein can clump together and start to cloud the lens. This is a cataract, and if it is left untreated, it expands in size, it makes it harder to see. Early-stage cataracts are generally treated with glasses, however if a cataract fully clouds the lens, surgery is usually required.

In Las Vegas cataract surgeons have refined techniques for removing mature, or “ripe” cataracts easily. Intravenous sedation is given for relaxation & the eye is anesthetized. The cataract surgery is done through a tiny incision of about 2 mm. The old, clouded lens is removed and replaced with a new intraocular lens that can correct and restore vision. Older patients may still need reading glasses, though some opt for multifocal intraocular lenses that can address near, intermediate and far distances simultaneously, in order to eliminate the need for glasses.

Cataract myths have been around for ages, though you cannot always trust what you hear. Some common myths include:

• Eye drops or vitamins can cure cataracts. False! Surgery is the only cure for cataracts.
• Recovery is long. False! Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure with many patients experiencing better vision within two days
• Lasers are used. False! It is actually ultrasound energy which is used to loosen and remove cataracts.
• Suturing is required. False! There are no sutures - the lens is replaced and the eye heals naturally.
• Cataracts only occur in older people. False! They can form at any age.

You will still need to wear glasses after surgery. False! If you choose a multifocal intraocular lens, you may not need to.

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Treatment for Cataracts in Las Vegas

The best treatment for cataracts in Las Vegas is a relatively simple operation to remove the cloudy lens which can cause vision blur. In the past, surgeons often waited to remove the cataract until vision was very poor. Nowadays however, the operation is usually performed as soon as eyesight affects everyday activities.

In Las Vegas cataract surgery is performed on a regular basis, usually patients are over 60. Before the operation, an eye and vision assessment is done by the doctor. Usually a local anaesthetic is given. The patient will be awake but will feel nothing. During the operation, the eye specialist should be telling the patient what is happening throughout the entire procedure. It is his or her job to make sure that the patient is feeling relaxed and comfortable.

In Las Vegas cataract surgery is done with the aid of a microscope, through a tiny opening in the eye. The procedure relatively quick, taking about 15 to 20 minutes, though sometimes a longer operation may be needed.

The most common Las Vegas cataract treatment is a clear lens replacement, or intraocular lens implant. The lens with the cataract is removed and a clear plastic lens is substituted so that vision is restored. The intraocular lens implant (IOL) remains permanently in the eye and is made from a substance which will never be rejected by the body.

After the operation there is usually an instant improvement in vision, though it will take several months to complete the healing. Since most IOLs are used normally for distance rather than near vision, eye-glasses may still need to be used for reading.

Patients will need to use medicated eye drops for up to two months after the operation. Most people will be able to return home on the same day. Recovering patients should not rub or touch the eyes, refrain from heavy lifting, avoid unnecessary sunlight, eye makeup or getting soap in the eye.

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Cataract Rate in Men Increases with Height, Waist Size and BMI

Across the globe Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness, and cataract surgery is among the most common surgical procedures in people over 65 years of age in the United States. Last year, 2,775,000 procedures were performed in the U.S. A cataract is the clouding of the normally clear, natural crystalline lens of the eye. As cataracts increase in size and density, they reduce the amount of light passing through the lens, which results in blindness if not treated. With modern cataract treatment Las Vegas physicians like Dr. Paul Hiss surgically remove the damaged lens and replace it with an artificial one.

In a 14 year study performed by Debra Schaumberg and other prominent physicians it was found that greater height and waist size ratio were proven independent risk factors for cataracts in men. Cataracts are a major public health problem in the United States, with an incidence of 20% of people aged 65-74 and 50% of people aged 75+.

After adjustment for age, lifestyle and other factors, men with the highest waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) were 1.55 times more likely to develop cataracts as those with the lowest WHR. The tallest men in the study (at least 6 feet and taller) were 1.23 times more likely to develop cataract than shorter men, and 1.5 times more likely to undergo cataract surgery. Chief surgeon for Eye Care Associates of Nevada Dr. Paul Hiss regularly performs Las Vegas cataract surgery on patients of a similar nature.

The 17,150 participants of this study were a subset of the larger Physician's Health Study. All subjects were healthy male U.S. physicians aged 40-84 in 1982 and were grouped into samples based on their BMI, height, and WHR. The subjects self-reported any and all incidents of cataract and cataract surgery which were then confirmed with medical records. Higher BMI, greater height, and higher WHR were consistently associated with a greater relative risk of cataract, even when adjusting for as many as eight potentially confusing variables.

Las Vegas Cataract specialist Dr. Hiss, along with the authors of the study suggests a possible genetic susceptibility in the case of height. WHR, which was consistently associated with higher risk of cataract in the study, is a valid measure of abdominal fat which is also a strong risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes causes earlier cataract formation, and thus several pathways are suggested to account for the relationship between abdominal fat deposition and development of cataracts.

Information supplied by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition. This information should not be construed as medical advice. For more information, consult your local Las Vegas Cataract Surgeon. To see the complete text of this article, please go to: http://www.faseb.org/ajcn/December/(11579)-Schaumberg.PDF or http:// www.faseb.org/ajcn/December/(12242)-Taylor.PDF

*Schaumberg, Debra et al. Relations of body fat distribution and height with cataract in men. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:1495-1502.


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