A Clear-Eyed View of the World

Something Else to Be Grateful for This Holiday Season

SAN DIEGO, CALIF (November 11, 2019) -- Here in the United States, we tend to see cataract surgery as an almost inevitable part of getting older. It is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in this country, with one of the highest success rates. But what about the rest of the world?

“The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 18 million people in the world are blind because of cataracts. That’s more than half of all global cases of blindness,” says Sandy T. Feldman, Medical Director of Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center in San Diego. “When it comes to eye surgery, cataract patients living in this country have so much to be thankful for.”

A cataract is the clouding of the lens of the eye, which can eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. Most cataracts occur simply as a result of aging, but other factors -- such as diabetes, ultraviolet light exposure and smoking -- can increase the risk. Cataracts is one of the easiest degenerative diseases to completely correct, but there aren’t enough resources in many parts of the world to give people access to treatment.

Dr. Feldman believes there is cause for hope. “Modern-day surgical techniques have become so advanced and simplified that fewer surgeons can perform a higher number of procedures. More widespread availability of low-cost intraocular lenses is making it less expensive, too.”

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Dr. Feldman is more mindful than ever of reasons we should all be grateful.

“We are incredibly fortunate to live in a country where treatment for diseases like cataracts is so readily available and affordable. Keep up with your regular eye exams and don’t take the health of your eyes for granted!”

About Sandy T. Feldman, MD
Sandy T. Feldman MD, Medical Director of Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center, is a world-renowned corneal expert who has successfully performed more than 20,000 refractive procedures. Clearview has been voted Best LASIK center by the San Diego Union Tribune (five times) and by CityBeat Magazine (three times). Dr. Feldman’s many awards include Top Doc San Diego; the Goldline Award, an honor granted to the top 10 laser eye care specialists in the U.S.; and the Silver Elite RealSelf Award. She has also been profiled in publications such as Forbes and Newsweek and makes frequent appearances as an expert commentator on TV talk shows and news programs. Dr. Feldman is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Ophthalmic Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. More details at clearvieweyes.com.

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