BY CYNTHIA RAMNARACE
Evening News staff writer
They turn once crisp images into cloudy causes for confusion. But they can be treated. Surgery takes less than an hour and within a few days, normal vision is restored in most cases.
Macular degeneration is a more formidable malady. Vision loss is slow and irreversible. There is no cure. Many people are left without central vision, only able to see things in the periphery.
So if a treatment for cataracts may also help prevent macular degeneration, why not give it a try? More and more ophthalmologists are making this same recommendation to their patients.
New lens blocks blue light
By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery, according to the National Eye Institute. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the country.
Late last year a new lens was approved for use in cataract patients. Acrysof is the latest advancement in cataract care.
All lenses block ultraviolet light, which is believed to cause cataracts in the first place. But Acrysof also blocks blue light in the visible light spectrum. This is the light that comes from solar radiation and artificial light. It's also the light that, in some preliminary studies, seems to increase the risk of macular degeneration.
"Blue light can damage the retina," said Dr. Gregory Katz of Huron
Ophthalmology at
Surgery best treatment
Cataracts are clumps of protein that form on the lens, located inside the eye. The lens helps focus light onto the retina, the tissue at the back of the eye. When the lens is cloudy, the retina cannot receive a clear image.
"Basically, by nature the lens in the eye is a clear lens," said
Surgery is the most effective treatment for cataracts. It requires replacing the natural lens with a synthetic one. Unlike contact lenses, this intraocular lens is never removed and requires no cleaning or other maintenance.
The new Acrysof lens is similar in all ways to the former UV-only blocking lens, except for its color, Dr. Katz said. It has a yellowish hue, which is imperceptible to the eye once the lens is placed.
The patient receives anesthesia to numb the eye, but otherwise he is awake during the procedure. Dr. Katz makes a small incision into the eye. Ultrasound, or high-frequency sound waves, are used to cut the lens into four pieces. By using ultrasound, the lens can be removed in small pieces, allowing for a smaller incision. A smaller incision lessens the chance of infection, reduces bleeding and speeds up recovery time, Dr. Katz said.
The Acrysof lens is folded and inserted through the small incision. Once inside the eye, it opens like a flower. Dr. Katz moves it into its proper place and the procedure is done in less than 30 minutes.
"Realistically, by tomorrow he'll be seeing a little bit better," Dr. Katz said.
Dr. Katz's patient, 84-year-old Alex Pentland of
His eyeglass prescription changed frequently, and seeing at night became increasingly difficult. After surgery, his vision returned to normal. He now has artificial lenses in both his eyes.
"It's marvelous how our bodies take to these foreign things," said Mr. Pentland's wife, Marie.
What are they?
A cataract is clouding of the lens, most commonly caused by clumps of protein. In some cases, a clear lens takes on a yellow or brownish color, causing vision to develop a brownish tint.
What causes them?
Age is the greatest risk factor for cataracts, but diabetes, alcohol use, smoking and exposure to ultraviolet light all increase the risk.
What treatment is available?
In the early stages, cataracts can be treated with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting and anti-glare sunglasses. When vision becomes seriously impaired, surgery is required to remove the lens.
Can they be avoided?
Some studies indicate that wearing sunglasses with ultraviolet protection, quitting smoking and eating a diet high in antioxidants, such as leafy vegetables and fruit, can help prevent cataracts.
Source: National Eye Institute
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