Glaucoma 2020

Cataract and Refractive Surgery

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A cataract, that lies behind the iris and the pupil, is a clouding of the eye's natural lens. The most prevalent cause of vision loss in people over age 40 is cataract and this is the main cause of blindness in the earth. Surprisingly, more cataract cases are there than glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration combined in worldwide, according to Prevent Blindness America (PBA). There are more than 22 million Americans having cataract today at age 40 and older. PBA says that more than 30 million Americans are supposed to have cataracts by the year 2020.

Surgical procedures which cure common eyesight problems (astigmatism, presbyopia, nearsightedness and farsightedness) to diminish the dependency on prescribed eyeglasses and/or contact lenses are known as Refractive surgery. LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most common surgery now a day where a laser is used to reshape the cornea. But there are also other laser procedures and intraocular lens procedures to correct the vision by reshaping the cornea or clear, round dome at the front portion of the eye. Implanting a lens inside the eye may be another procedure to correct the vision.