Cataract Surgery and Diabetes : No Need to Fear Your Doctor!

The following is the story of a Japanese woman living in Los Angeles who found herself quickly and unexpectedly losing her vision. As a journalist for a successful Los Angeles-based Japanese sports paper, Eiko suddenly found an already challenging job becoming more difficult. She was suffering from a rapidly failing eyesight, not understanding why and too scared of doctors to say anything.

Finally, during a visit to Japan in the spring of 1999, Eiko visited an eye doctor for what she thought would be a prescription change, only to discover that she was losing her vision due to cataracts. Eiko remained in disbelief of her problems, thinking of cataracts as something only contracted by the elderly. Although she had had eye problems since she was a child, cataracts were unexpected in women only fifty years old. She went to L.A. located Dr. Robert E. Feinfield for another opinion.

Her ophthalmologist agreed that cataracts at her age were a rare condition, although there was a reasonable cause - diabetes. Dramatic, sudden decrease of vision at people Eiko's age was often a good indication of cataracts caused by diabetes. Dr. Feinfield ran some tests and did discover an extremely high blood sugar level. Eiko was assured, however, that her cataracts were nothing to be afraid of as there was no possibility of her going blind due to a reliable cataract-removal procedure available.

Replacing the natural lens of the eye with a silicone implant is a surprisingly simple, quick procedure that eliminates cataracts. The procedure takes only forty-five minutes, involving only two tiny incisions in the cornea. Eiko gained help with her diabetes two months before the procedure, and was placed on a regular diet and medication in order to regulate her blood-sugar levels, so that no complications would arise during the procedure.

Upon Eiko's post-operation examination, she discovered that her vision had been completely restored in that eye. She declared, "I can see now!" as nurses showed her her blood levels and heart rates on a monitor at her feet. Looking around the room, she spoke of one nurse, saying, "I can see her face now, and she’s smiling."

If you would like to learn more about Eiko's story or have questions of your own about cataract surgery, feel free to contact Dr. Feinfield of Los Angeles, California.