 Cataracts
Cataracts are a common condition where the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy.
Because we look directly through the lens in order to see, this clouding can cause blurred vision. In the United States, cataracts are considered to be the major cause of treatable vision loss. Cataract surgery at our Beverly Hills practice,
serving the Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and surrounding areas (although many patients travel to us from much farther away), is a treatment that can clear our patients’ vision.
Cataracts can occur at any age but are more common as people get older. Some cataracts do not cause much of a problem with vision and do not need any treatment. If the vision is blurred and cannot be corrected with glasses, if you cannot pass your driver's test, or if your doctor cannot see the back of your eye through the cataract, you may need cataract surgery. Although there is some evidence that vitamin C may have some success in slowing the progression of cataracts, there is no medical treatment for cataracts once they have affected vision.
Cataract Surgery at our Beverly Hills Practice
Cataract surgery is considered very successful with a low complication rate of around two percent. About 1.5 million cataract surgeries are performed yearly in the United States. Dr. Peter Cornell and Dr. Stuart Stoll perform cataract surgery at their Beverly Hills practice using the most modern techniques, such as phacoemulsification (ultrasound to break up the cataract). Phacoemulsification involves making a small incision in the peripheral cornea so that a foldable intraocular lens implant can be inserted. Each patient is required to have a full comprehensive ophthalmologic examination and consultation to determine if they need cataract surgery, and if so, which approach is best for them. Often, cataract surgery can be performed in 10 to 20 minutes at
Specialty Surgical Center, located just down the street from
our Beverly Hills practice. The surgery is an outpatient procedure; however, the patient must stay in the surgery center for approximately three hours. Cataract surgery is usually performed using topical anesthesia (eyedrops) with most patients experiencing minimal discomfort. Almost all of the cataract surgeries are performed at the Specialty Surgical Center, an excellent, freestanding surgical center located one block from our office. Most patients have relatively minimal restrictions after the cataract surgery. If you live in the Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or Beverly Hills area,
or can travel to our office, please
contact our practice for a consultation regarding cataract surgery today.
Return to Top
Intraocular Lenses
Whether used in cataract surgery, or for refractive lens exchange, intraocular lenses are indispensable tools at our practice. For patients who might not be candidates for laser vision correction, our doctors also offer
refractive lens exchange with intraocular lenses, or phakic refractive lenses that may be able to reduce or eliminate the dependence on glasses. However, for those
with excellent distance vision who are
seeking reduced dependence on reading glasses, conductive keratoplasty, rather than intraocular lenses, may be the ideal solution.
Return to Top
Refractive Lens Exchange
Refractive lens exchange is identical to the procedure performed for cataract surgery; an intraocular lens (IOL) implant replaces the eye’s natural lens.
In terms of risk, technique, and recovery, patients may expect the same experience as during cataract surgery.
Currently, our Beverly Hills doctors use refractive lens exchange in cases of extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness that cannot be treated with LASIK, as well as in cases where patients are seeking reduced dependence on reading glasses. Refractive lens exchange has become an accepted and popular alternative to other refractive procedures such as LASIK.
If you would like to find out more about intraocular lens implants or cataract surgery, and live in the Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Los Angeles areas, or can travel to our office, contact Beverly Hills LASIK Center today to schedule a consultation.
Return to Top
ReStor® Intraocular Implant Lens
The ReStor® intraocular implant lens is an FDA-approved multifocal implant that uses state-of-the-art optics technology to provide both reading and distance vision to most patients. According to studies done by the FDA, 80 percent of ReStor® patients were able to carry out their daily activities without using glasses. People who do use intermediate distance vision often, such as those who work on computers, may need to use weak magnifying glasses at the computer distance in addition to their ReStor® implants. In comparison to other brands of intraocular lens implants, ReStor® lenses have a slightly higher incidence of glare and halo effects at night; however, most patients are so pleased with their reduced dependence on reading glasses that the unwanted optical side effects are outweighed by the benefits of ReStor®.Since the ReStor® implant lens can be used in patients with or without cataract formation, insurance coverage is not always guaranteed. Although ReStor® can correct a variety of refractive errors, significant astigmatism may require additional treatment. If you would like to learn more about this implant lens, or if you would like to determine whether you are a good candidate for ReStor® implants, contact our practice today.
Return to Top
Rezoom Intraocular Implant Lens
The Rezoom intraocular implant lens is another multifocal lens which is similar to the Restor lens. The Rezoom lens also has good distance vision, and the reading vision is clear at a little further distance away than the Restor lens. The intermediate vision is generally better than with the Restor lens. The Rezoom lens otherwise shares most of the characteristics of the Restor lens, including the halo effects at night and a need for any astigmatism to be addressed with LASIK or limbal relaxing incisions for the lens to give good visual results.
Crystalens® Intraocular Implant Lens
The Crystalens® intraocular implant lens, approved by the FDA in 2004, is the first implant lens to be indicated for use in patients with presbyopia as well as cataract formation.
This lens works in a very different way than the multifocal Restor and Rezoom lenses. The Crystalens is the only accommodating implant lens that actually moves a little inside the eye to allow the eye to use the normal focusing muscles to focus the lens. It is also monofocal, so all of the light is focused at one spot, unlike the multifocal lenses. However, because of the focusing ability of the lens, patients with the Crystalens are able to have a range of good vision without glasses.
Because the Crystalens® is flexible and can move in response to the eye’s focusing muscles, most patients are able to achieve good distance and intermediate vision without glasses. Half of patients with Crystalens® also report that they do not use reading glasses; the other half generally need weak
(+1.25 magnification)
reading glasses to magnify their close vision. In 2004, Beverly Hills LASIK Center became the first practice in the area to implant the Crystalens®. Because it can be used for presbyopia correction as well as for cataract surgery, our
patients from locally in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles as well as from the surrounding or distant areas who come to us for surgery
will be responsible for paying for the additional cost associated with the presbyopia correction. Insurance will cover the cataract correction
as long as there is a visually significant cataract. Even though Crystalens® implants are an appropriate treatment for many people, not everyone is a candidate. Severe astigmatism may require treatment through another method, such as LASIK. To find out if you are a good candidate for Crystalens®, or if you’d just like to learn more about this implant, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Return to Top
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is actually a combination of a number of different diseases. The most common form of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma.
In this common form of glaucoma, the pressure inside the eye is too high for that individual person’s optic nerve and causes a very slow, painless, and symptom free damage to the optic nerve, thereby initially affecting the peripheral vision, and if undetected, can eventually affect the central vision.
Because of the lack of symptoms, the only way to diagnose glaucoma is with a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. Important risk factors for glaucoma include family history of glaucoma, increasing age, Afro-American heritage, history of ocular injury, or a history of topical eye drop steroid use. The diagnosis and ongoing evaluation of glaucoma requires regular examinations of the pressure in the eye, the appearance of the optic nerve, including nerve fiber layer analysis, and the function of the optic nerve as measured by a formal visual field test, which is a test of peripheral vision. All of the technology needed to complete these examinations, including the Humphrey Visual Field machine and Heidelberg Retinal Tomographer (HRT), is available in Beverly Hills at our office.
The treatment of open angle glaucoma includes the option of medicated glaucoma eye drops, laser treatment (Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty), and in more severe cases, glaucoma surgery. With early detection and prompt and effective treatment, glaucoma damage can be prevented in the vast majority of patients.
Another form of glaucoma is narrow angle glaucoma, a mechanical form of glaucoma with a sudden rapid increase of pressure in the eye that causes severe pain, redness, and blurred vision -- often with halos -- that needs to be treated immediately in order to preserve vision. Glaucoma eyedrops, laser treatment (Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty), and in more severe cases, surgery are available at the Beverly Hills LASIK Center. However, we believe that with early detection and prompt and effective treatment, glaucoma damage can be prevented in the vast majority of patients.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with our practice, contact us about cataract surgery, IOL implants, or glaucoma today. We are happy to serve Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica area patients.
Return to Top
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. This disease is the result of an aging process in the retina, the inside lining of the back of the eye. The central retina is called the macula, hence the name macular degeneration. This disease includes a wide range of age-related changes in the back of the eye, from patients with 20/20 vision that have age-related deposits called drusen, to patients who lose all of their central vision. Patients with macular degeneration never go completely blind from this disease, as they retain their peripheral vision, but they can become legally blind.
The disease occurs in two primary forms, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. The primary treatment for dry macular degeneration is prevention, including not smoking, wearing ultraviolet blocking sunglasses, eating a diet rich in beta carotene, and for patients facing a higher risk, or who have macular degeneration, taking a vitamin supplement as recommended by the AREDS study can be helpful. Patients can also be helped with low vision aids and by making sure that the rest of the eye is functioning as well as possible.
A more rare form of macular degeneration is called wet macular degeneration because there is bleeding deep to the retina. This form can sometimes be treated with laser or surgery, and is usually noticed with a sudden area of distortion in the near central vision. If you have such an area of distortion, you should see your ophthalmologist or a retina specialist as soon as possible. Best wishes for healthy eyes and good vision throughout your life!
Our practice is happy to answer any questions our patients have about macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataract surgery. Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills area patients can contact the Beverly Hills LASIK Center today to schedule a consultation with our surgeons.
Return to Top
|
