Eye Clinic of Austin
As one of the oldest surgical procedures in history, cataract surgery has evolved tremendously over the years. The first documentation of the surgery was in fifth century BC, though to call it “surgery” may be a stretch. In ancient times, a technique called couching was used.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common eye surgeries performed in the United States. Eye Clinic of Austin’s own ophthalmologist, Thomas Henderson MD, has performed over 10,000 cataract surgeries in his career.
Laser technology continues to make medical procedures quicker, safer and more accurate, and now thanks to femtosecond technology (the same technology behind LASIK) cataract procedures are included in these advances.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and are so common later in life that it’s basically considered part of the aging process.
Cataract surgery is one of the most prevalent surgeries performed in the U.S. with over three million completed each year. Most people understand the importance of cataract removal, but many don’t know what happens after the surgery.
An Australian study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, shows that people with vision loss attributed to cataracts who have had cataract surgery live longer than those with cataract-related vision loss who forgo the procedure.