2015-06-21



What do Claude Monet, Larry King and Joan Rivers have in common?

They have all developed cataracts at one point in their life. June is Cataract Awareness Month and the ophthalmologists at Shepherd Eye Center would like to educate the community about the early detection and treatment of cataracts.

Did you know…

More than 22 million Americans have Cataracts.

A cataract is the clouding of your eye’s natural clear lens.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness. (Just ask Mama June who is legally blind due to developing cataracts as a child that were not properly treated).

Here are just a few more celebrities who had cataracts: Henry Winkler, Graham Nash, Ronnie Milsap, Mila Kunis and Johan Sebastian Bach.

Shepherd Eye Center in Las Vegas performs the most cataract surgeries in the state of Nevada.

Shepherd Eye Center is nationally recognized for excellence and advancement in eye care and eye surgery, and has ophthalmologists on staff known for pioneering new techniques in eye care.

A cataract is the clouding of your eyes’ naturally clear lens. As we age, cataracts form in the natural lens. Cataracts are not an eye disease, but can sometimes develop from eye injuries, certain diseases, medications or long-term exposure to sun. Signs of cataracts include cloudy vision, blurriness, halos around lights, sensitivity to glare, double vision and age.

While cataracts cannot be prevented, development can be delayed by protecting your eyes from the sun, eating a diet rich in fatty acids including fish, avocado and nuts, maintaining vitamin C levels, not smoking and controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes. Cataract treatment includes outpatient surgical removal and lens replacements.

Cataract surgery at Shepherd Eye Center has evolved over the years into a “no shot, no stitch, no patch” procedure. Shepherd Eye Center in Las Vegas performs the most cataract surgeries in the state of Nevada.

“According to the National Institute of Health more than 22 million Americans have cataracts and they are the leading cause of blindness,” says Dr. Steven O. Hansen, president of Shepherd Eye Center. “Cataracts are a normal part of life, not an eye disease, and need to be addressed. There are preventative measures that everyone can take to help prolong cataract development.”

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a comprehensive eye exam for all adults starting at age 40. For people at risk and those over age 60, doctors recommend screening every one to two years. For those who don’t have risk factors, doctors recommend screening every three to five years.

Shepherd Eye Center was founded in 1968 by Dr. John R. Shepherd. Nationally recognized for excellence and advancement in eye care and eye surgery, Shepherd Eye Center offers a wide range of services including general ophthalmology, vision correction and specialized treatments for glaucoma, cataracts, lens implants, pediatric services and cosmetic services. Our team of trusted ophthalmologists provides unparalleled vision care using the latest medical techniques, surgeries and the most sophisticated technology. Shepherd Eye Center has four convenient locations in Las Vegas, Summerlin, Southwest and Henderson, and one surgicenter that provides surgical care, located inside their Las Vegas office at 3575 Pecos-McLeod.

The Shepherd Eye Surgicenter is state licensed, Medicare-approved, and accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Industry. To learn more please visit www.Shepherdeye.com or call (702) 731-2088.

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