Q.: What is a cataract?
Dr. Kagan: A cataract is a natural aging change of the eye that happens to everyone sooner or later. Most people develop cataracts sometime in their late 50’s and 60’s. A cataract is a clouding of the natural crystalline lens inside the eye.
Q.: How does a cataract affect vision?
Dr. Kagan: since the clouding of the lens occurs slowly most people don’t even notice that their vision has been severely affected. Most cataracts decrease vision by making it difficult for people to read, watch television, and drive, especially at night. Some say that they feel like they are looking through a cloudy window or a fog.
Q.: How are cataracts removed from the eye?
Dr. Kagan: Uncomplicated cataract surgery today in my hands takes 7 to 15 minutes with only topical anesthetic and NO injections or needles. A small ultrasound probe NOT a laser like some surgeons want you to believe is used to gently remove the natural cloudy lens. Then an artificial lens is placed into the same position of the old lens. Thus a cloudy old lens is replaced with a clear new lens. This lens will be in the eye for the rest of your life. It will stay clear all of your life.
Q.: Is cataract surgery and after the surgery recovery painful?
Dr Kagan: NO because we use special advanced techniques. Patients say that they do not feel any pain during the procedure or during the recovery period.
Q.: How quickly does vision improve after surgery?
Dr. Kagan: Usually it takes about 5 to 14 days for full recovery. Many factors play a role in how fast the vision recovers after surgery , for example, age, hardness of the cataract, the health of the cornea as well as other factors.
Q.: How many cataract surgeries has Dr. Kagan performed?
Dr. Kagan: In the past 11 years Dr. Kagan has personally completed close to 3000 successful cataract procedures. Dr. Kagan has performed cataract surgery on his Father and Mother; both are 20/20 today and enjoy excellent vision.
Q.: When is the best time to remove cataracts/When should a cataract be done?
Dr. Kagan: The cataract has to be removed when vision is decreased and the cataract is not too soft and not too hard. If a cataract is very hard then it will be more difficult to remove, take more ultrasound energy and involve a longer healing period and a higher complication rate.
Call our office TODAY at 323-937-2269 to schedule consultation with Dr. Kagan to find out which procedure is best for you!
