A lot of people don’t realize that August is “Sight Saving Month” as declared by former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay. This was done to give awareness to the different ways people could save their vision or eyesight. Dr. Sherman Valero, President of Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology will be shedding light on this issue on our show “Kasangga Mo Ang Langit”, a TeleRadyo program of DZRJ 810khz, 8 TriMedia Network.
Cataract: A Degenerative Condition
Majority of our senior citizens suffer from cataracts because this is a degenerative condition. It comes with age and starts around 50 – 60 years and progresses as the person gets older. High blood sugar or diabetes increases the risk of getting cataracts at a much earlier age.
Avoiding Cataracts
There has been no conclusive study that diet can stop or reverse the onset of cataracts. They say that avoiding excessive sunlight helps but there’s no definite proof of that. What we can suggest is for patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle, that is, eat healthy, don’t smoke, don’t drink. Wear protective sunglasses when you are outdoors and do not abuse your eyes. Have regular eye check-ups so that we could detect it sooner.
Modern Technology
Despite significant advances in science and technology, most Filipinos still fear it when eye surgeries are concerned. According to Dr. Valero, one should not underestimate the condition or the procedure that needs to be done to cure it. It is a routine operation which means the success rate is very high.
Of course one cannot avoid complications or problems. It is based on different factors and situations.
90 – 95% Success
There’s a 90 – 95% success rate in cases where people who had cataract surgery have better vision afterward. It’s a very safe procedure compared to how it used to be done back in the 1960s, 70s and even in the 1990s. It is an out-patient procedure nor would you need to be admitted in the hospital. There are different kinds of treatment.
Femto-Second Laser Surgery
Femtosecond Laser Surgery is now being done in the Philippines – in fact we were one the first countries that offered Femtosecond assisted cataract laser surgery. Our specialists are recognized regionally and internationally.
Conventional cataract surgery used to involve creating a large incision on the cornea that would later on need to be sewn. The patient would need to be sedated and would normally take 1 – 2 hours. Take note that the larger the incision, the bigger the chances of complications due to infection and bleeding.
Femtosecond Laser makes a very small incision on the cornea – thus there’s no need for it to be sewn. Since the wound is small, healing is faster. In fact one can go back to work ( read and do any visual tasks) after the operation unlike before. Although patients are still told to take things easy for the first few days.
Heavy physical exertion is avoided or any kind of activity that could injure your eye.
20-20 Vision?
If there are no impediments or no other problems, vision can be restored. 20/20 vision cannot be promised because it depends on the age and complications.
Cancer Of The Eye
Retinoblastoma is a cancer that starts in the retina, deep inside the eye structure. However most of the cancer that would be seen in the eye are metastatic. Meaning it came from other parts of the body and would spread to the eyes. For example, breast cancer or leukemia would exhibit symptoms in the eyes. It is easy to spot cancer if it is visible in the lids or tear glands. When it develops in the retina, it is harder to spot. However these kinds of cancer are rare.
Pao.Org.Ph Is The Website
If you have inquiries regarding eye conditions, do not hesitate to contact us through the website. This makes it easier for people to contact us wherever they may be in the Philippines. The site also has numbers for doctors that can be found in each region for easier access.
