Background: Cataract is the major cause of blindness in the world and affects an estimated 20 million persons globally. In Africa, there is an incidence of half a million new cases of cataract blindness annually, with a backlog of 3 million persons requiring sight-restoring surgery. The burden of this form of curable blindness resides mainly in less developed nations, which typically have limited numbers of ophthalmologists and medical resources. The experience and results of a general surgeon working in rural West Africa, without prior ophthalmic skills but with limited training in the field, are reported.
Methods: Data on all consecutive planned intracapsular cataract extractions performed between January 1994 and July 1995 inclusive were collected prospectively and the visual outcome as well as surgical complications were analysed.
Results: A total of 243 planned intracapsular cataract extractions were performed. Data were incomplete or missing in five cases leaving 238 for analysis. All the patients were blind pre-operatively, with visual acuities of 3/60 or less. Functional vision (6/60 or better) was restored in 95% of all cases.
Conclusions: General surgeons can be satisfactorily trained in the art of intracapsular cataract extractions, with good visual outcomes. This is very useful in the setting of undeveloped countries where there are severe limitations of resources, and the recruitment of trained general surgeons will help reduce the burden of curable blindness in these regions.
At Amplify with Dr Wernick I was seeking help for seemingly intractable, probably age-related dryness. I've seen other doctors about it, and that has been helpful, but what he explained to me about it and the careful way he answered all my questions gave me so much more of a clear understanding of what is going on (and is not) that I am more able to implement all his and others' recommendations than I was before. And he gave me additional resources for further follow-up. I am most grateful.
Wow! This is a great Eye Care medical facility. I was thoroughly examined by Dr. Pinkhasov for over 2 hours. She made sure to check my eyes for pretty much everything and patiently explained proper care for my eyes. They definitely know how to provide great care and treat their patients right. Now I know why they have such a great reputation and been around for so long.
Dr. Kavner is a gifted diagnostician and orthoptic therapist. He treated me several decades ago for a condition similar to dyslexia. I was having migraines five times per week. I worked with him for about a year and I experienced tremendous improvement (down to 3-4 per year) that has lasted.
Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!
Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!
I have always found Dr Kavner's work, expertise and wisdom of the highest caliber. As one of the fathers of OT, occupational othomology, his depth and breadth of knowledge about the eyes' health and wellbeing of the patient is exemplary. Cannot say enough good things about him.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision problems people experience. In this blog post, we'll discuss the causes and symptoms of myopia and how optometrists can help correct this common vision issue. What is Myopia? Myopia is a vision condition in which the eyes focus too close, making distant objects […]
As an optometrist at Amplify EyeCare Manhattan in New York, one of the most common questions Dr. Nathaniel Wernick often encounters is: "Are carrots good for your eyes?" To put it simply, yes, carrots are indeed beneficial for your eyes. Carrots are known to improve eyesight, and this is largely due to the wealth of […]
Is foggy vision troubling you? Let our experienced optometrist restore your sight – book an appointment today and see the difference! The term foggy vision often refers to a visual disturbance characterized by blurred, cloudy, or hazy vision, which can make seeing clearly challenging. As your local optometrist, we recognize the significance of maintaining optimal […]
