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Cataract |
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People often think of cataract as a film that grows on their eyes causing them to see double or blurred images. However, a cataract does not form on the eye, but rather within the eye.
A cataract is a clouded natural lens, the part of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. As the age increases, the old cells of the lens die and become trapped within the bag (capsule) of the lens, causing the lens to cloud and affect the vision as clouded lens is ineffective focusing the image on the retina, which is light sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Cataracts are commonly due to ageing changes. In fact, they are the leading cause of visual loss among adults 55 and older. But, eye injuries, certain medications, and diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism have also been known to cause cataracts.
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Treatment
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Cataract is usually treated by removal of clouded lens through a small incision which is made on the top of the cornea (coloured part of the eye) and replaced by an artificial foldable plastic lens. A few tests are performed before the surgery to choose the right powered lens and the surgery is aimed at providing unaided vision, meaning no requirement of glasses for distance. There are different types of artificial lenses which are inserted in the eye in normal lens position. Common type of lens inserted is called monofocal lens for distance, which focuses the images of the distance on the retina. Patient who undergoes surgery with monofocal lens inserted will still need glasses to read.
Multifocal lens is another type which aims at providing good unaided vision for all distances including reading. But, these lenses are a new development and not always possible to get away with glasses.
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Care after surgery
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Compared to 10-15 years ago, the cataract surgery available today is very advanced and called Phacoemulsification, where the cataract is removed through a small opening in the eye and the cataract is removed with an ultrasonic probe. Through the same incision, a foldable artificial plastic is inserted in the normal lens position in it’s bag.
The cataract surgery doesn’t need to stay in the hospital and it is called day care surgery where patient goes home after the surgery on the same day. Patients need to use protective antibiotic eye drops with steroids to help healing of the eye and prevent infections. Glasses are prescribed after 4-6 weeks if needed.
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Thickened capsule
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| The lens bag in which the plastic lens is inserted sometimes may become opacified after the surgery causing decreased vision, again from a few months to a year after the surgery. This is treatable with laser. Laser energy is used to remove the thickened membrane and that will allow more light to enter into the eye and improves the vision. It is usually complication free treatment, but rarely can cause retinal tears which may lead to detached retina requiring surgery to fix the retina back onto it’s normal position. |
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