Dr. Jim Kiley during cataract surgery.
RALEIGH -- As we get older, the potential for impaired vision increases. Much of that, like needing glasses, is attributed to the natural progression of age.
However, sometimes the problems can be more serious, like cataracts. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, according to the US Department of Health.
Doctors say with advances in technology and surgery, alleviating problems with cataracts is now a fairly simple and painless process.
John Konopka, 63, awaited cataract surgery optimistically.
By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, according to the US Department of Health.
"I'm hoping clear vision, to see things without shadows," said Konopka.
Konopka has worn glasses for most of his life but began noticing subtle changes in his vision.
"Well, I started getting headaches reading and watching TV and saw shadows and blurred vision," Konopka explained.
He thought he just needed new glasses, but a visit to the doctor proved otherwise.
“That's when they told me about the cataracts," said Konopka.
A cataract is a clouding of the lense in the eye, and while it can be treated relatively easily, going without treatment could prove detrimental to a person's quality of life.
Cataract surgery patient John Konopka.
“If they're too advanced, you can't drive, read, cook, or walk around safely,” said Dr. Jim Kiley, an ophthalmologist at the Raleigh Eye Center.
Dr. Kiley said about 90 percent of his cataract patients are senior citizens, as cataracts are often just a natural part of aging. He also said the advances in treatment should encourage these patients to seek help.
“When I first was training, we would keep patients in the hospital at least several days," Kiley continued. "Now, the treatment takes less than 15 minutes, and they can get up and walk home an hour later.”
The outpatient surgery is fairly simple and only takes about 15 minutes.
“We just numb the eye with drops, and then we make a small opening. We can break up and suction out the old lense, which is clouding the view, and then we use an artificial lense implant," Kiley explained.
The lense implant is injected in place of the old lense, and just like that, a new lease and look on life.
"I'm more than happy right now," said Konopka, immediately after his surgery.
Dr. Kiley said there's no way to completely prevent cataracts, but limiting exposure to UVA rays and protecting your eyes from the sun, are ways you can decrease your risk for many types of eye diseases.