What is the most common cause of vision loss that people should be aware of?


The most common cause of vision loss as we age is cataract, which is our specialty at Hawaiian Eye Center. A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, blocking and distorting light needed for the retina to process images. Factors that can increase your risk of developing cataracts include: exposure to ultraviolet light, diet, smoking, diabetes, use of some steroid medications and serious eye injuries.


The most asked question about cataract surgery from patients is if it hurts. Modern surgical techniques allow us to painlessly remove cataracts. At Hawaiian Eye Center, our doctors and knowledgeable, friendly staff do everything we can to make the procedure easy and comfortable, working to assure the best possible results. Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. and involves removing the eye’s clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial lens implant.


We have our own dedicated eye surgery center and strive to provide the most advanced technology at our offices in Waipahu and Wahiawā, which serve Leeward and Central O‘ahu and the North Shore. For those who choose laser-assisted cataract surgery and vision correction, we often are able to provide excellent vision following the procedure. In many cases, we can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses after surgery.


Hawaiian Eye Center has always been Hawai‘i’s leader in cataract care. We opened Hawai‘i’s first outpatient eye surgery center in 1982 and brought “no stitch,” or small-incision, phacoemulsification cataract surgery, to the Islands. As medical director and primary surgeon, I have performed well over 10,000 cataract procedures and have been honored to lecture and display my surgical techniques internationally.


Our doctors specialize in not only cataract, but also glaucoma and cornea disease. My colleague, Steven Rhee, D.O., is a board-certified ophthalmologist and has been a cornea specialist for over a decade. We host “The Hawaiian Eye Show” every Saturday at 8 a.m. on KHVH 830 AM, rebroadcasted at 9 p.m. on KHBZ 990 AM. The weekly informational radio program educates the public on the importance of preventative eye care.


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