What Is Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is the solution if you are frustrated about your or your loved one’s deteriorating vision due to cataracts. But let us first get a general understanding of cataracts and how they are formed. When your natural lens in the eye loses its flexibility and changes color, it becomes cloudy. This can happen for various reasons, but aging is the most common cause. Other causes include eye injury, prolonged sun exposure, smoking, diabetes or glaucoma, etc. When your natural lens becomes cloudy, you may experience vision loss, double vision, blurry or hazy vision, tinted view of the surroundings, etc. These symptoms hinder your day-to-day activities, such as driving or even leaving the house. 

Cataract surgery is a simple and quick procedure with a high success rate. Cataract surgery removes the natural lens in the eye due to its opacification. The natural lens is replaced with an artificial one called IOL. Nowadays, cataract surgery is done by either phacoemulsification or laser-assisted cataract surgery. 

When to Have Cataract Surgery?

If you have cataracts, it is optional to get the surgery done immediately. You can sometimes wait for some months to get cataract surgery, as its progression is slow. Cataracts do not cause pain but can affect your vision and hinder your ability to perform routine activities. Talk to your doctor about when you should have cataract surgery based on what is best suited for you. There are several tests done before undergoing cataract surgery.

The AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology)  has developed a list to help determine if you need cataract surgery.

• Is your cataract affecting your daily activities?

Symptoms like blurry, dim, yellow, or even double vision can hinder your day-to-day activities even when present in one eye. The contrast and clarity of your vision also can be affected by the development of cataracts leading to difficulties while driving, reading, cooking, etc.

• Is your cataract affecting your night vision?

Cataracts can cause halos around the light source. It can also cause difficulty seeing dim-light settings impacting driving at night. 

• Is your cataract impacting your outdoor activities?

Your cataract can increase your glare sensitivity, especially in sunlight, and cause trouble if your job requires you to work outdoors. Cataracts also cause visual differences in both eyes, leading to difficulty estimating far-place objects. 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should consult an eye doctor who can evaluate your condition and recommend the appropriate treatment, which may include cataract surgery. Frequent changes in the prescription of your glasses may also be a sign that you may be developing a cataract. Note that your cataract will progress faster if you suffer from conditions like obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes. It is also important to note that cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure, and the majority of patients experience significant improvement in their vision and quality of life after the surgery.

What Are The Types of Cataract Surgery?

Most modern types of surgery involve replacing your lens with an IOL (intraocular lens). Some of them are listed below:

1. Phacoemulsification 

Your surgeon will make a 2 to 3-mm long incision in front of your eye for an ultrasonic probe. The probe will then break up the cataract with the vibration and removes the pieces with suction. A foldable lens is then inserted through the incision. After the surgery, a small wound is present that heals by itself (it does not need stitches to heal).

2. MECS (Manual extracapsular cataract surgery)

During this procedure, your surgeon will make a 9 to 13-mm long incision and removes the cataract-ridden lens. A replacement intraocular lens is then inserted through the incision. As there is a larger incision, this procedure has a higher risk of complication when compared to phacoemulsification

3. MSICS (Manual small incision cataract surgery)

MSICS is a deviation from the MECS procedure. In this,  a V-shaped incision is made, which is narrow on the outside of the eye and broadens on the inside. The incision outside is 6 to 7 mm, and the internal incision can be up to 11mm. Some studies provide similar outcomes. 

4. FLACS (Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery)

This procedure uses a laser instead of a manual technique to make an incision in your eye. The laser can also divide and soften the cataract, resulting in less phacoemulsification energy required to remove the natural lens, leading to quick healing. This method enables the surgeon to make accurate incisions due to the laser used in this procedure. After FLACS, patients will not require glasses. 

5. Intracapsular cataract surgery

This older procedure removes the entire lens and capsule from your eye through a large incision. As this procedure has a higher risk of complications, it is rarely performed. 

What Are The Different Lenses Used in Cataract Surgery?

In cataract surgery, various artificial lenses can replace your natural lens. The type of lens you choose depends on your lifestyle and cost. 

1. Monofocal Lenses 

These are the most common lenses used for replacement. Monofocal lenses maximize your vision to a particular distance. Usually, these lenses are chosen for distant vision and reading glasses can be used for near vision.

2. Toric Lenses

These lenses are used for correcting astigmatism (a condition where the front of your eye has an irregular shape causing blurry vision).

3. Extended depth of focus lens

These lenses have a corrective zone that stretches to maximize your distance and immediate vision. This is ideal for major computer work. 

4. Mono-focal accommodating lens

Contrasting to mono-focal lenses, these lenses can adjust the distance based on the activity of your eye muscle. 

5. Multifocal lens

This lens splits the light that comes into your eyes and helps you see far and near objects. However, these lenses can cause halos and starbursts in some patients due to light splitting. 

How is Cataract Surgery Done?

Cataract surgery usually is an outpatient procedure and takes 30 to 45 minutes to be completed. It is performed under local anesthesia, and you can go home the same day after the surgery. However, you should arrange a drive back home after the surgery

• Your surgeon will take your eye measurements about a week before your scheduled surgery. This will help to determine the size and shape of your eye. 
• Your surgeon may prescribe eye drops and advise you to use them for some days before the surgery as this will assist in the surgery.
• Your doctor might also ask you not to eat solid food for at least 6 hours before your surgery. 
• The procedure chosen depends on your surgeon and your cataract severity. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your surgeries will be scheduled some weeks apart. 
• Your doctor will numb your eye with local anesthesia by injecting eye drops. You will be awake during the surgery and may be given sedatives to relax sometimes.
• Your surgeon will use a microscope to make a small incision in front of your eye. An ultrasonic probe will be inserted into the incision to break your natural lens and remove the pieces of cataracts by using suction. 
• A foldable lens will then be implanted in place of your natural lens. This technique does not require stitches to heal the incision in your eye.
• You will be advised to rest for 30 minutes in the hospital’s recovery area before the surgeon permits you to go home. 
• On discharge, your surgeon will give you instructions to be followed at home to ensure proper recovery.\
• You will be informed of the date of the follow-up visit. During the visit, your surgeon will check your vision and check the progress of recovery.

Takeaway.

The rewards of cataract surgery are higher than the risks associated with it. Avoiding the slightest chance of a problem by carefully selecting a best cataract surgeon in bangalore , following post-op instructions, and reporting any symptoms of a potential complication can help you get the best possible outcome.

Consult Medfin doctors to curate the best way to cure your cataract. Trust our experts to find the methods that best suit you at Medfin.

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Also Check: Cost of Cataract Surgery in Bangalore

Disclaimer: The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.