What is cataract?
Cataract is clouding or opacification of natural crystalline lens present in our eyes.
What are the causes?
Ageing is the most common cause of cataract leading to decreased vision. Besides advancing age, other risk factors include:
1. Exposure to Ultraviolet radiation
2. Diabetes
3. Hypertension
4. Obesity
5. Smoking
6. Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
7. Previous eye injury or inflammation
8. Previous eye surgery
9. Family history
10. Others
How can we prevent cataract?
While there are no scientific treatments available to prevent you can use some of the tips to prevent or delay occurrence of cataract
1. See your eye doctor regularly.
2. Eat a diet rich in beneficial nutrients.
3. Quit smoking -- or better yet, never start
4. Cut back on the cocktails.
5. Protect those eyes from the Ultraviolet light by using sunglasses or UV protecting coating on your glasses.
6. Keep your diabetes under control
7. Avoid using corticosteroid medications for any length of time.
What are the symptoms of cataract?
Blurred vision, seeing multiple images, glare, light sensitivity, poor night vision, fading colours are few of the symptoms caused by cataract
How cataract is treated?
In the early stages though spectacles can improve vision, surgery remains the best course of treatment. A thorough initial assessment is done to understand the exact nature of the cataract and associated conditions. Some of the tests include IOP, Keratometry & Axial Length measurement (To understand which Intraocular Lens suits your eye and measure the power of it), dilated Fundus examination and OCT to know the retinal status. B scan may be necessary in cases of dense cataract. It helps to evaluate posterior segment status.
Among various surgical options available for cataract surgery Phacoemulsification remains the standard procedure worldwide. A tiny 2.8mm incision ensures quick healing and visual rehabilitation allowing person to resume his daily activities quite early. During the process, a tiny probe is inserted into the eye. The probe uses safe ultrasound waves to soften and break the cloudy lens and is then removed by suction. Through the same tiny incision, a foldable high quality lens (IOL) will then be implanted to restore the vision.
At our centre, cataract surgery is generally done under topical anaesthesia, not requiring any sedation or injection to numb the part. Our experienced doctors perform this delicate surgery using advanced equipments and techniques to make it safer for you with best possible outcomes.
What is MICS cataract surgery?
GV eye world provides a further advanced cataract surgery called Micro Incision Cataract Surgery which is the current state of the art cataract surgery. In this, the incision is even smaller than the standard phacoemulsification procedure. The advantages of this surgery include less astigmatism induction, more stable refraction, very early visual recovery, quick healing and more importantly reduced post-operative infections. At GV eye world we won’t leave any stone unturned to make your surgery safer. As we use one of the best Phacoemulsification machine in the world where in the tubings and cassette used for surgery are discarded after every use, thus making it even safer in reducing postoperative infections.
When should I undergo cataract surgery?
Although there is no fixed time for undergoing cataract surgery, it is better to undergo surgery at the earliest before it disturbs your daily activities. As decreased vision can impair mobility, make individual prone for falls and fractures, decreases quality of life, increases dependency on others, causes economic and emotional impact, affects social interaction, it is advisable to undergo cataract surgery early. If it reaches mature stage, it can cause secondary glaucoma at which stage surgical outcomes will be compromised. However this decision is individualised and after getting initial assessment done by the doctor, you may take an informed decision.
What are the Intraocular Lens implant options to choose from?
There are many IOL options available to be implanted after cataract surgery.
Going by materials, there are two main choices- Hydrophyllic and Hydrophobic. Hydrophobic IOLs are the preferred ones worldwide in present times considering lower after cataract rates and stability of IOL in the eye.
Aspheric lens is another option which in suitable eyes increases the clarity of vision by reducing spherical aberrations. It is a good option to consider for those requiring night vision and need to drive.
Blue light/ UV light blocking Yellow lenses are another option which can help in reducing UV light damage to your retina. These may help in reducing retinal damage due to UV light exposure.
There are Monofocal and Multifocal IOLs. Monofocals if implanted may need glasses for reading activity or for some distant activity as well. If you are looking for freedom from glasses after cataract surgery, then you can choose Multifocals or the newer Trifocal designs, which reduces need for spectacles in most of the activities. However you may still require glasses in some occasions. Multifocals can cause glare and halos in night light conditions and may require adaptation time of few months. The newer Trifocals have less such problems but may still occur.
Toric Lenses are required to achieve clear vision in people with coexisting significant corneal astigmatism. Astigmatism if not treated simultaneously, you may be left with unaided blurred vision at all distances even after cataract surgery. However this may be corrected with spectacles.
Each eye is different and all options doesn’t suit everyone. All these options can be discussed with your doctor and may be decided what lens suits best to your eye depending on your eye condition.