JA ophthalmologists lead in correcting vision impairments.

New developments in correcting vision problems are making it possible for more people to accomplish simple tasks they thought they’d never be able to do without glasses.

Southern California Japanese American ophthalmologists like Dr. Ray T. Oyakawa and Dr. Fred K. Kurata are among those taking the lead in correcting vision impairments—cataracts, nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and other conditions—with groundbreaking techniques.

Words such as Prelex, Crystalens, and ReZoom have entered into our modern lexicon and offer increased options to patients, particularly those whose eyesight is changing due to age.

Dr. Oyakawa, an expert refractive surgeon with Sharper Vision Centers in Torrance and Century City, has performed more than 12,000 eye surgeries and over 1,800 Lasik surgeries.

One new method—Prelex (Presbyopic Lens Exchanged)—is recommended for those who are hyerperopic (farsighted) or have early signs of cataracts.  Some of the early indicators of cataracts are increased nearsightedness, sensitivity to light, blurred or cloudy vision, double vision, and changes in the color of the pupil.

An active life without glasses is more accessible than ever, particularly for cataract patients, according to Dr. Oyakawa. 

Innovations such as Crystalens, an artificial lens that works like the eye’s natural lens, can restore an individuals’ vision to what it was years ago.  Although some patients still required glasses for some tasks, more than 98 per cent reported being able to pass their driver’s test without glasses and read the newspaper or a phone book.

Lasik is often recommended to those who have no signs of cataracts but want to see without glasses.  Those with presbyopia, a condition that normally occurs as part of the aging process when an individual experiences difficulty seeing near objects, reading, or slow focusing after prolonged reading, are also potential candidates for Lasik. 

“For many people who are used to clear vision at all distances, the onset of presbyopia is often very frustrating,” a spokesperson for Dr. Kurata’s East West Eye Institute points out.

Dr. Kurata has been practicing for over 20 years, specializing in treating glaucoma and cataracts as well as performing refractive surgery.  He has built East West into a comprehensive eye-care organization with four offices located in Downtown Los Angeles, Gardena, Santa Monica, and Torrance, each outfitted with the latest in diagnostic and treatment equipment.  He attributes the growth of his practice in large part to the fact that his patients often refer friends and relatives to the Institute.

The key, says Dr. Okayawa, is combining the latest in vision correcting technology with “old world” one on one patient care.  “No two eyes are the same,” he says.  “The same holds true for surgeons.”