LITTLE ROCK -- Studies show that after cancer and heart attacks, Americans fear blindness more than any health problem. More than 24 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, making this the most common eye condition in the United States. Although one in seven people currently have a cataract, this is one of the most curable causes of vision loss.
Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process. Over the course of a person's life, repeated exposure to sunlight causes a gradual clouding of the eye's natural lens. The clouding results in blurred vision and loss of color sensitivity -- everything appears hazy and dull. By age 80, more than half of all Americans have either a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
• Cloudy or blurry vision.
• Colors seem faded.
• Glare. Headlights, lamps or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
• Poor night vision.
• Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)
• Frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses.
"For eight years, I've been struggling with really bad vision. I wasn't able to do anything I loved anymore. I had to stop my hobby of bird watching years ago because I couldn't see through the binoculars. I couldn't even drive at night," says Richard Wohlschlager, of Pine Bluff, a cataract surgery patient at McFarland's, in the press release.
"Sometimes a patient tells me that they've gotten new glasses, but still can't see well, or are having trouble reading the Bible or their newspaper," says Dr. Mike S. McFarland of McFarland Eye Centers. "Almost every time I hear these symptoms, it turns out the patient does, in fact, have cataracts."
Of course, these symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems, which is why a complete eye exam each year is so critical.
There are no medications, eye drops or glasses that will make a cataract resolve on its own. Surgery is the only treatment, but is usually done as a brief outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The cloudy natural lens is replaced with a clear, artificial lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of the eye. Cataract procedures are the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with the vast majority of patients regaining useful vision.
Wohlschlager recalls, "When I was told I had a cataract, I was just expecting another surgery and to kind of be able to see afterwards. But what I got instead was a miracle! One day after my surgery and I could see things I hadn't seen in years! The new vision is great, but more than that, it's the freedom that means the most to me. I'm already planning trips and doing the things I love again."
Both traditional and laser cataract surgery are offered at McFarland Eye Centers by McFarland and Dr. Evan Newbolt. Both surgical options are extremely effective, but the laser-assisted cataract procedure can be more predictable and precise. This state-of-the-art equipment allows the most difficult part of the cataract surgery to be automated. Also, with laser cataract surgery, the surgeon is able to "map" each eye, and truly customize cataract surgery to meet each patient's specific needs.
"What I like most about doing cataract surgery is that the results are almost instantaneous," says Newbolt. "I get to help people regain their vision and their lives."
When it comes to cataracts, McFarland has seen it all. In 1990, he was the first eye surgeon to perform no-stitch cataract surgery. The development of this technique is considered to be one of the most important milestones in modern ophthalmology. With fewer complications and faster healing time, it is now the technique of choice for thousands of surgeons around the world. As a teacher and innovator, he is respected around the world -- and also in his home state of Arkansas.
McFarland has been chosen as one of the "Best Doctors in America" for 20 consecutive years. Only 4 percent of doctors in the United States are selected by physician surveys involving more than 1 million votes. He has also been named one of the "Best Doctors in Arkansas" by the Arkansas Times and was honored to be the first doctor named "Best of the Best Ophthalmologist" by the readers of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
For more almost 35 years, the doctors and staff of McFarland Eye Centers have served the people of Arkansas, and their focus is on patient care. McFarland's offers safe and convenient outpatient surgery with the help of experienced and friendly staff, and provides skilled clinical care for glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and dry eye. In addition to world-class cataract surgery, the practice also offers oculofacial plastics surgery and custom bladeless LASIK. The McFarland Eye Centers medical team is led by seven well-trained and compassionate doctors who serve patients at clinics located in Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Little Rock. A fourth location will be opened in Bryant later this year.
For more information, call 800-934-3837.
Business on 06/20/2016