Cataract Surgery

A cataract is a cloudy or opaque area (an area you cannot see through) in the lens of the eye. The normal lens of the eye is clear but if the lens becomes cloudy, the condition is known as a cataract.

Causes

Cataracts develop from a variety of reasons:
•  long-term ultraviolet exposure
•  exposure to radiation (infrared, microwave, outer space)
•  secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and advanced age
•  eye injury or physical trauma
•  certain drugs may induce cataract development (Corticosteroids, Ezetimibe and Seroquel)
•  genetic factors in congenital cataracts
•  congenital cataracts can also be caused by infections affecting the mother during pregnancy, such as rubella

Cataracts may be partial or complete, stationary or progressive, hard or soft.

There are various types of cataract, e.g. nuclear, cortical, mature, hypermature. Cataracts are also classified by their location, e.g. posterior (classically due to steroid use) and anterior (common (senile) cataract related to aging).

Symptoms

•  Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision
•  Loss of color intensity
•  Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
•  The glare from bright lights causes vision problems at night, especially while driving
•  Sensitivity to glare from lamps or the sun
•  Halos around lights
•  Double vision in one eye
•  Decreased contrast sensitivity (the ability to see shades, or shapes against a background)

Treatment

The only treatment for cataract is to remove it surgically. Cataract surgery also known as cataract extraction is usually recommended for people who have loss of vision or vision abnormalities caused by clouding of the lens. It is performed in a hospital or in an outpatient setting.

Cataract operations are usually performed using a local anaesthetic or in the case of children using general anesthetic.

With the help of a microscope, a small incision is made at the junction of the clear and white outer parts of the eye. The lens can be removed in several ways, depending upon the type of cataract:
•  With surgical instruments and suction
•  With an instrument and machine that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasonic energy) to break up the lens and suction it out (phacoemulsification)
•  An artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is usually inserted to help the eye focus in the absence of the removed lens. The incision may be closed with fine stitches (sutures) or may be self sealing (sutureless). If sutures are placed, they may need to be removed at a later date.

The surgery typically lasts less than an hour.

Generally the patient returns home the same day as the procedure and then returns the following day for examination. A patch is placed over the operated eye and worn until the follow-up examination the next day. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops will be prescribed for use for several weeks to assist the healing process.

Expect complete healing in about 10 weeks. Glasses or contact lenses may then be fitted if the clarity of your vision needs to be refined.

Risks and complications

•  Endophthalmitis
•  Posterior capsular opacification
•  Retinal detachment

Cost of Treatment

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