Patient Testimonials
"I have had two cataract surgeries performed by Dr. Richardson and have also seen Dr. Pritchard before and after each procedure. I have been impressed by their thoroughness - one time even referring me to make certain their measurements were exact. Prior to my first surgery, I was aware of blurred vision and difficulty with depth perception. However, I was unprepared for the dramatic improvement in seeing color that I experienced after my surgery. It's been an incredible and joyful experience! In addition, because of my improvement in depth perception, I no longer back into the bushes driving out my driveway. I'm happy - and my husband is thrilled! Lastly, Dr. Richardson, Dr. Pritchard, and the office staff & surgery staff are top notch in their professionalism - and in their ability to reassure with both information and humor. I unfailingly recommend them to anyone who asks about my eye surgeries." - K. M. (after cataract surgery) |
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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.
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