New technology is improving the way we see. There are new breakthroughs that are improving vision for people, even those with cataracts and other challenges.
Former KSL 5 News Anchor Dick Nourse recently benefitted from that technology and Dr. Phillip Hoopes, from Hoopes Vision, is the doctor who performed the procedure.
Cataract surgery is one of the many modern “miracles” of the last 30 years, as advances in technology have changed what was once a difficult, painful experience into a relatively simple procedure that offers quick recovery and has an excellent success rate.
At Hoopes Vision, Phillip Hoopes Sr., M.D;Phillip Hoopes, Jr., M.D; O Claron Alldredge, MD; and Michael J. Bradley, MD have helped many thousands of residents in the greater Salt Lake City improve both their vision and their quality of life thanks to advances in cataract surgery.
“Patients have told us how they remember their grandparents putting off cataract surgery because they dreaded it so much,” says Dr. Hoopes, Jr. “It was considered major surgery back then with patients remaining in the hospital for several days. After the surgery, visual acuity might still be poor because patients had to wear heavy glasses with thick cataract lenses.”
Contrast that image with today’s techniques which allows patients to be “up and about” resuming normal activities within a day or two. Clear eyesight returns for most people almost immediately. And instead of heavy glasses, patients have the benefit of intraocular lens (IOLs), a man-made lens that is permanently placed inside the eye once the damaged natural lens is removed during surgery.
“The new IOLs have been a revolutionary breakthrough in improving vision for our patients,” says Dr. Hoopes, Jr. “They allow us to dramatically reverse the effects of vision loss, which makes performing cataract surgery so rewarding.”
In fact, cataract surgery is now one of most commonly performed operation in the U.S., with some 1 million cases conducted every year.
Cataracts are simply a clouding of the lens inside the eye, making vision blurry or hazy. Over time, without treatment, they can cause loss of vision. Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process. Some medical experts say that if we lived long enough, everyone would develop them. While doctors may not know the exact cause, they do know that cataracts are among the most treatable medical conditions. And advances in technology just keep improving the outcome.
Within the last five years, a new type of IOL has been introduced that is changing the paradigm of cataract surgery even more. New multi-focal lenses are not just clearing up cloudy vision; they are restoring good near and far vision. For many people, that means reducing their dependence on corrective eyewear after cataract surgery.
The surgeons at Hoopes Vision are experienced and credentialed in several different types of multi-focal lenses, including Tecnis®crystalens®, ReZoom™, andReSTOR® lenses. While all of them work to restore near and far distance vision, each type of lens functions differently. Which one is best is based on the patient’s unique vision correction needs, physiology and lifestyle. “The multi-focal lenses do cost a little more, but in my experience, patients feel it is an investment that is worth it because of their improved eyesight and the freedom they gain,” says Dr. Hoopes, Jr. “Who wouldn’t enjoy not having to reach for bifocals to read, see the computer or enjoy golf and tennis?”
Because the multi-focal lens implants represent such a breakthrough, they are now being used as an alternative treatment for vision problems other than cataracts, such as presbyopia, where seeing objects up close becomes more difficult with age.
“We are pleased to offer our patients so many options to improve their vision,” says Dr. Michael J. Bradley. “We look forward to finding the type of lens that best fits their lifestyle and their vision correction needs.”
For more information, contact http://www.hoopesvision.com/
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