Cataract Surgery

Visual loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructing light from passing and being focused on to the retina at the back of the eye. It is most commonly due to biological aging but there are a wide variety of other causes. Those with cataract commonly experience difficulty appreciating colours and changes in contrast, driving, reading, recognizing faces, and experience problems coping with glare from bright lights.

Cataract removal can be performed at any stage and no longer require ripening of the lens. Some doctors will even recommend cataract surgery to those with clear lenses where the patient simply wants to remove the need for glasses for distance. However, because all surgery involves some risk, optimizing the risk to benefit ratio normally implies that there should be some change in vision before removal. Such surgery is usually ‘outpatient’ and performed using local anaesthesia unless otherwise indicated to be done under general anaesthesia.

Cataract can also occur in children which are congenital or development. Depending on the amount of opacity and chances of lazy eye, surgery is performed immediate. Special care is taken to perform surgery in these children.

Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the eye’s internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic hand piece and aspirated from the eye. Following this step, an artificial lens with specific power is folded and unfolded inside the eye to implant in the natural position of the lens creating a self-sealing wound without use of any suture material. Modern cataract surgery has improved and hasten the visual recovery and reduce the recovery of postoperative period, thus making comfortable for the patient.