LASIK and Eye Surgery Blog - Clearview Eye and Laser Medical Center

Friday, January 29, 2010

Understanding Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens Options in San Diego

Cataracts are very common, in fact by age 80 more than half all Americans have had or have a cataract according to the National Eye Institute. At ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center, renown refractive surgeon Dr. Sandy T. Feldman specializes in treating cataract patients in Del Mar, Mission Valley and all over San Diego.


Dr. Feldman removes a cataract by making a very small incision in the eye and using an ultrasonic probe to dissolve and break up the cloudy natural lens. The pieces are carefully removed, leaving the membrane of the lens intact so the new intraocular lens can be placed in the eye.


The intraocular lens is a synthetic lens designed to mimic the natural function of the lens of the eye. A traditional intraocular lens gives patient good single vision, also known as monofocal vision. With a traditional intraocular lens, the patient has good distance vision, but may need glasses for reading or near vision. An advanced intraocular lens is designed to give patients good distance and near vision, allowing for less dependence on glasses. ClearView has several intraocular lenses available, which allows patients to choose the best lens for their lifestyle.


For questions on cataract surgery or intraocular lenses, contact the ClearView team at our offices in San Diego.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 6:49 PM

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Defining the Different Type of Cataracts in San Diego

Cataracts are a common vision condition with more than 1.5 million cataract surgeries performed in the US every year. As cataracts develop the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy and vision become obscured and blurry.

While cataracts are common, there are different types of cataracts and they include:

• Nuclear cataracts – A nuclear cataract forms in the center or nucleus of the lens of the eye. They can commonly develop as patients age.

• Cortical cataracts – cortical cataracts develop in the cortex, or outside of the eye’s lens as the cataract gets larger it extends inward. Cortical cataracts are common with diabetic patients.

• Subcapsular cataracts – a subcapsular cataract develops at the back of the lens and is common in patients who take steroid medications, have diabetes, farsightedness or retinitis pigmentosa.

For more information on cataracts and surgery treatment available in Carmel Valley and throughout San Diego, contact us.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 5:05 PM

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatments for Cataracts

Cataracts are a common visual issue, in fact, some 20.5 million Americans aged 40 and over have cataracts and by age 80 more than half all Americans have had a cataract, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A cataract forms in the natural lens of the eye when the protein component of the eye clusters together forming a cloudy area, affecting the patient’s vision.

Today, there are many surgical and non-surgical options for treating cataracts. When cataracts are small or just developed and they do not seriously impact a patient’s vision, they can be treated with bifocals and prescription glasses.

As cataracts develop further, patients may need to consider cataract surgery where the natural, clouded lens is removed and an intraocular lens is implanted in the eye. Dr. Feldman offers several types of intraocular lenses to treat cataracts. For more information on the different cataract treatment available in San Diego, contact our office.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 3:05 PM

Sunday, January 17, 2010

San Diego Residents ask: What are Cataracts and How do they Form?

At ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center, we treat many cataract patients from Del Mar, Mission Valley and all over San Diego. A common question cataract patients ask is what are cataracts and how do they form.

We start by explaining how the eye works. The lens of the eye works much like a camera’s lens works. As light enters the eye, the lens focuses the light onto the retina so you are able to see objects clearly both close by and far away.

As we age, the protein component of the lens may begin to clump together and form what looks like a cloudy area. This cloudy area is called a cataract and as the area expands it becomes harder for you to see clearly.

It is not yet known why the natural lens of the eye changes as we age or why cataracts develop. However, research has found that certain cataract risk factors in recent years. Some factors include:

• Exposure to ultraviolet light, radiation and/or air pollution
• The use of steroid medications
• Diabetes
• Diets high in salt
• Smoking and/or heavy drinking

If you have questions on cataracts or cataract surgery, contact us at ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center or become a fan of ours on Facebook.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 11:23 AM

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The ReSTOR Lens, a surgery option for San Diego Cataract and Presbyopia Patients

For patients that have cataracts and presbyopia, there are now several treatment options available at ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center including the ReSTOR Lens, an advanced intraocular lens.

When a cataract forms, the crystalline lens of the eye becomes cloudy which, overtime, causes the patient to have obscured vision. Cataract surgery is done when the patient’s vision is significantly impacted. During cataract surgery, the crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. Presbyopia is a condition that affects most patients in their forties and fifties including cataract patients. When a patient is presbyopic, their eye’s natural lens becomes less pliable which makes is difficult to focus on near objects, like books or computer screens.

The ReSTOR lens is implanted in the eye and works by bending light as it passes through the lens’ multiple focal points and on to the retina of the eye. Many ReSTOR patients have reported having clearer close and distance vision after the procedure with less dependency on glasses or contacts.

For questions on the ReSTOR lens or other cataract procedures offered, contact us.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 6:02 PM

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Cataract Surgery options for San Diego Patients

Some patients develop cataracts as they age. As a cataract forms the protein component of the eyes’ natural lens begins to join together and a cloudy area develops making it increasingly difficult to see, according to Dr. Sandy T. Feldman.

As the cataract gets worse, many patients consider having cataract surgery to replace the natural lens of the eye. For patients with cataracts and/or presbyopia, a popular vision correction solution is an advanced intraocular lens like the Crystalens. This lens works by using the eye’s natural focusing system to give the patient good distance and reading vision and less dependency on glasses or contacts.

Benefits of the Crystalens include:
  • 92% of patients see 20/25 at a distance
  • 96% of patients can see 20/20 at arm’s length
  • 98% of Crystalens patients see well enough to pass their driver’s license eye test without prescription glasses or contacts
For more information on cataracts or cataract surgery, contact ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center.

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posted by Clearview Staff at 2:02 PM

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San Diego LASIK Center

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S. :: ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
6255 Lusk Blvd., Suite 100 :: San DiegoCalifornia 92121
“She’s the Surgeon to See”