About Cataract Surgery

Patient Testimonials

"(I am an Alhambra School district retired elementary school principal and student teacher at Cal State Los Angeles.)

I have had amazing improved vision outcome from my recent cataract surgery, performed by Dr. David Richardson with fine support of his staff. The color of my surroundings has been enhanced. I was surprised to be able to see nesting peacocks high in the pine trees in Arcadia and could differentiate between them and the tree branches and leaves. I had not fully appreciated the color of paintings that I have had for years and even the color of the icons on my computer.

Since one eye has not yet been corrected, it is easy to make an instant comparison between the right eye that has been corrected and the left which has not. Needless to say, I hastened to make an appointment to do the left eye.

I have also experienced improved driving confidence. [Prior to cataract surgery] Even with corrective lenses, I could not quickly determine street crossing signs well or signs indicating upcoming freeway off ramps.

The atmosphere in the doctor's office is pleasantly informal yet business-like. All staff was gracious and helpful.

I would - and have - already recommended the procedure to several others who need it.

I'm very grateful for this which adds much to my enjoyment of life."

- La Vonne Baquet Wood (3/22/09 - after cataract surgery)

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About Cataract Surgery

Eye Anatomy: How We See
• The human eye consists of a series of lenses that refract (bend) light rays to focus light images on the retina. These images are then transferred via the optic nerve to the brain where we “see” them.
• The two primary focusing lenses of the eye are the cornea (outside lens of the eye) and the natural crystalline lens (inside lens of the eye).

Cataracts
• A cataract occurs, usually gradually, as the natural lens of the eye becomes clouded or discolored.
• This clouding of the natural lens of the eye causes light entering the eye to scatter prior to reaching the retina. This causes hazy or blurred vision (See image at right).
• If left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness.
• The only treatment for cataracts is removal of the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacing the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL).
• According to the Eye Surgery Education Council, “About 60 percent of those older than 60 years and 70 percent of those older than 75 years have cataracts.”
• As the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group reported in Archives of Ophthalmology, an estimated 20.5 million Americans older than age 40 have a cataract in either eye and the total number of persons who have a cataract is estimated to rise to 30.1 million by 2020.2
•Approximately 2.7 million cataract surgery procedures are performed in the United States – 14 million worldwide3 – each year to restore vision loss due to cataracts making it, according to the Eye Surgery Education Council, the most commonly performed surgical procedure.