Is Cataract Surgery Possible?

Posted on August 17, 2007 in Latest News

A cataract is described as a clouding of the lens of the eye, which gives rise to hazy eyesight. A cataract develops when protein in the lens starts to cluster together and cloud a minute portion of the eye. This cloud will keep on growing and hinder the vision. Ultimately, the cataract has to be eliminated from the eye with the help of eye surgery.

Cataract surgery eliminates the natural, clouded lens of the eye and substitutes it with an artificial lens that is clear. The surgery is generally carried out under local anesthesia with the total process generally taking less than an hour. There are a number of different techniques involved in both the elimination and the substitution parts of the surgery. The technique employed usually depends on the preference of both the patient and the physician.

The affected lens can be removed with the help of extracapsular surgery. This procedure entails the removal of the lens but allows the capsule to remain in position. This gives greater support and enhances the healing capability of the eye. The most frequently employed kind of extracapsular surgery is phacoemulsification. It is presently the most widespread version of extracapsular cataract surgery that is used in the United States. Phacoemulsification initially makes the lens soft and then breaks it apart, with the help of ultrasound technology. The lens is then taken out, allowing the capsule to remain in place.

Intracapsular surgery pertains to the removal of the total lens, together with the capsule. This form of surgery is not commonly employed due to the enhanced threat of retinal detachment, inflammation, and additional problems. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) substitute the natural lens, by fixing the artificial lens into the capsule of the lens. They are put in through a tiny slit and open out within the eye. About 90% of cataract surgery patients are provided with IOLs. Cataract glasses or contact lenses are utilized less frequently in nearly 10% of the cases. Glasses or contacts are occasionally given to patients who are exceedingly nearsighted or who suffer from other eye ailments that do not make them suitable for IOLs.

Risks of Cataract Surgery

The majority of these problems are extremely uncommon. Conferring with a qualified ophthalmologist about the surgery in advance and adhering to the doctor’s advice may diminish the threat of complications. The majority of patients obtain satisfactory results from their surgeries, including enhanced vision.

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Comments

One Response to “Is Cataract Surgery Possible?”

  1. Bill Vollmer Says:
    September 12th, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    two days after surgery, I notice that my perificial vision is reduced. Is this normal?

    thanks for your help

    Bill Vollmer

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