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UC Irvine vision expert to discuss cataract surgery advances

Public invited to learn more about latest laser and lens innovations

April 11, 2016
Dr. Sameh Mosaed, UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

Dr. Sameh Mosaed, UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

UCI Health invites the public to learn more about the latest advances in laser techniques and lens replacement technology in cataract surgery. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, and is the most common cause of vision loss in people aged 40 and older.

Dr. Sameh Mosaed, clinical professor and director of glaucoma services at the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute will share her expert insights at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 25 at the Newport Beach Central Library, featuring videos of actual cataract surgeries. The discussion is part of the library’s lecture series, “Medicine in our backyard: the leading edge.”

“Today, there are new laser technologies that can be used to perform cataract surgery and a wide variety of premium intraocular replacement lenses,” Mosaed said. “Patients can choose the type of procedure they want, as well as the type of lens that best suits their specific visual needs and personal lifestyle.”

Cataract surgery involves creating a small cut on the cornea, which is the transparent layer forming the front of the eye. The clouded lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens.

“The types of intraocular lenses currently available include toric, which corrects astigmatism as well as near sightedness or far sightedness; multifocal, and accommodating, which expand the range of vision so you can see clearly at all distances without glasses; or monovision, which gives you near vision in one eye, and distance vision in the other,” she explained.

The decision of when to undergo cataract surgery is made by the patient, not by the doctor, Mosaed said. Even with vision as clear as 20/25, if your daily activities are adversely affected by your symptoms, surgery is a viable option.

“As with all surgeries, there are risks,” she said, “but the patient’s symptoms and level of impairment determine when the benefits outweigh the risks.”

Audience members will have the opportunity to ask the doctor questions following her presentation.

The Newport Beach Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 411-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 15 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and it is the primary teaching hospital for the UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the University of California, Irvine: Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.