All about cataract
What is cataract and why it happens-
A cataract is the clouding of the lens in your eye. It can happen for many reasons, including aging( most common), injury to eye, diabetes, myopia, steroid intake, congenital(since birth), etc. The lens becomes cloudy because it loses its transparency and can no longer focus light on the retina.
About cataract surgery
During cataract surgery, a patient’s cloudy natural cataract lens is removed, either by emulsification in place or by cutting it out. An artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in its place. Cataract surgery is generally performed by an ophthalmologist in an ambulatory setting at a surgical center or hospital rather than an inpatient setting. Either topical, sub-tenon, peribulbar, or retrobulbar local anesthesia is used, usually causing little or no discomfort to the patient. The operation takes about 15 minutes, and most people can go home on the same day.
Well over 95% of operations are successful in restoring useful vision, with a low complication rate. Day care, high volume, minimally invasive, small incision phacoemulsification with quick post-op recovery has become the standard of care in cataract surgery all over the world.
Cataract surgery replaces your cloudy natural lens with an artificial one that will help you see better without glasses or contact lenses.
Today, phacoemulsification cataract surgery is the most widely recognized method in the world with a more than 95% achievement rate, with most recent innovations for Cataract Surgery
The benefits of cataract surgery include improved vision, reduced or no dependency on glasses or contact lenses, better quality of life.
The procedure is done to improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
IOLs are becoming more popular because they provide better quality of vision than other types of lenses. They work by using a combination of refractive and diffractive optics to correct the person’s sight.
A wide range of intraocular lenses are available for patients to chose from, including monofocal, toric (to correct the astigmatism or cylindrical power), trifocal, multifocal, or extended depth of focus(EDOF) IOLs.
A preoperative evaluation includes routine blood tests and surgical fitness, along with IOLs power calculations.
Precautions / preoperative care
*Do not use perfumes
*Do not use cosmetics on the eyes or face
*Take a light breakfast if not instructed otherwise
*Continue medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, heart problems, joint pains etc. As advised previously (except ecosprin or other anticoagulant, as advised by and under supervision of physician)
Precautions after Cataract Surgery
Try not to rub your eye with your hands. In the event that your eye waters or tingles, you can wipe it tenderly with a perfect tissue or a clean, damp cloth or eye wipes available at pharmacy.
* You may begin shaving after 1week of your cataract operation.
* You can resume activities like watching TV for sometime after 2-3 days of surgery.
* You may resume all your routine household activities after a week.
* Do instill eye drops regularly, as advised by your eye doctor.
* Avoid heavy weight lifting
* Avoid swimming
* Avoid any injury or eye rubbing
What to do
* Do clean up with cleanser and water before you apply any eye medications.
* Do wear a defensive eye cap around evening time for seven days
* Do clean your eyes with clean bubbled water using cotton, 2-3 times each day.
* Do contact your eye specialist quickly in the event that there is any issue.
* You may begin shaving after 1 week of your cataract operation.
*Do not wear eye makeup for 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion. Do not get your hair coloured or trimmed for 10 days after surgery.
*Consult your eye doctor whenever you need or if in doubt regarding eye care.