'It's Amazing': Improved Vision With Cataract Surgery
When Woodinville resident Amanda and her husband went on a vacation to Mexico, they were excited to celebrate their anniversary and get away for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, their trip hit a speedbump when Amanda experienced a tear in her left retina, causing a vitreous bleed which made it impossible for her to see out of her left eye. She was able to have surgery to repair the tear, but having dealt with eye concerns in the past, she knew it likely wouldn't be the last time she needed surgery on her eyes.
As a speech and language pathologist, Amanda runs her own practice treating children for learning and language disabilities and dyslexia, helping improve their reading comprehension and so much more. Her vision is essential for her work not to mention every other aspect of her life.
Not long after her first vitreous bleed, Amanda experienced another vitreous bleed due to a blood vessel that had grown through the repaired tear in her retina. She underwent a vitrectomy to repair the damage. Yet, even with her retina repaired, further damage had been done as the complications allowed oxidation to occur in her eye and accelerate the growth of a cataract.
Cataracts occur when your eye's lens becomes clouded due to the breaking down of proteins. This can cause blurred or hazy vision and lead to seeing less color. The only treatment for cataracts is surgery, which involves replacing your natural lens with an artificial lens.
When Amanda's vision in her left eye worsened, her eye doctor said she'd have to get surgery. She also learned that she had a smaller cataract in her right eye.
"I needed to find a surgeon, so I started asking around," Amanda said. "My friend's parents, who had undergone cataract surgery, spoke highly of Dr. Sara Huh with EvergreenHealth. Once I got in with her, I was so relieved. She was excellent, especially educating me on what cataract surgery is, the lenses we could use and what I could expect after my surgery. I knew immediately that I'd found my surgeon."
Once she was scheduled, Amanda said the process was seamless, receiving cataract surgery on each eye within two weeks.
"Cataracts can negatively impact your health beyond just vision," said Dr. Huh. "Recent studies have linked cataracts to an increased risk of developing dementia. That's why it's so important for everyone to receive regular eye exams and get treatment as soon as possible."
Since her surgery, Amanda's vision has not only returned to what it was but objects far away are much crisper than they've ever been.
"I'm an avid hiker and love to backpack with my husband, but I never realized how much I missed looking at the mountains and scenery we come across," said Amanda. "I've had glasses and contacts, but it's amazing how much better my distance vision is with the new lenses. When I look out the window at the cedar trees they are super crisp."
EvergreenHealth Eye Care is staffed by board-certified ophthalmologists, integrating state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment. Find more information about EvergreenHealth Eye Care, including details about cataract treatment.
