As we get older, the lens inside the eye gradually becomes misty or cloudy. When the vision becomes hazy, the condition is known as cataract. Cataract still continues to be the leading cause of treatable blindness. This condition can be treated by surgery which can also be done when you have other eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
2. Clear The Haze
Cataract still continues to be the leading cause of treatable blindness. As we
get older, the lens inside the eye gradually becomes misty or cloudy. When the
vision becomes hazy, the condition is known as cataract. Fortunately, it is
treatable by an operation called phacoemulsification by which the cloudy lens
is removed and is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. Generally,
cataract develops in old people but some children can also have this condition
by birth or it could develop later on. Such cases are usually dealt in a different
way when compared to cataract in adults.
Normally, when you look at something, the light passes through the front of
your eye and is focused on the retina by the lens. When the lens becomes
cloudy, the light cannot pass through the lens and you will notice problems in
your vision. By far, the commonest reason for the cataract is due to age
(growing older). People over the age of 55 will have some cataract and all of us
will develop cataract in time. Apart from that, diabetes, trauma, certain
medications can also cause cataract. In general, the cause of cataract will not
affect the way it is removed and replaced with artificial lens.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cataract vary but some symptoms are common for most
people. For example, you may feel that your sight has become hazy; you may
feel you need more light to see distant objects clearly but you may still able to
read clearly; your vision may be poor at night.
Another common symptom is the problem with bright lights, you may
experience a lot of glare or you may find that the headlights of a vehicle dazzle
you more than they used to. Occasionally, you may feel that your 'short sight'
is worsening and you might want to get stronger glasses.
Initially, one eye may be affected more than the other, but eventually we
develop cataract in both eyes. If you notice any of these changes, you should
have your eyes tested by an ophthalmologist who will be able to restore your
vision by a cataract surgery.
At Apollo Day Surgery, we have advanced and innovative technology to
facilitate cataract surgery and the consultant ophthalmologists with us have
extensive experience in performing the cataract surgery using this latest
3. technology and have the best knowledge about various artificial lens which are
suitable for each patient.
What happens during the surgery?
During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed using latest technique via a small
incision and an artificial lens is folded and inserted through this small incision
without the need for stitches. Cataract surgery can be done through an even
smaller incision called Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (MICS) with patients
returning to work the next day. Generally, patients are instructed to arrive one
hour before the surgery and they can go home after 3 to 4 hours on the same
day. Cataract surgery usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes and it is performed
under topical anaesthesia (no injection) or local anaesthesia.
Generally, glasses are required after cataract surgery to fine-tune your vision,
but if you choose to have multifocal lenses then you can manage to see
without glasses for the majority of your day-to-day activities. The right type of
artificial lens which will be appropriate for your eyes can be chosen based on
your needs after discussing with experts.
After the surgery, you will be asked to use eye drops for a few weeks and your
vision will improve and stabilize over few days. It is very important to follow
the do's and don'ts as instructed after the surgery which will help in speedy
recovery. If you have cataract in both eyes, the second eye can be operated on
within the next few days.