Treatments
Because cataracts don't clear up on their own and there are currently no medications, supplements or eye exercises that can reverse their development, the only way to restore your sight is to surgically remove the original lens before the problem gets worse. That said, if a cataract is at an early stage and not interfering with your vision, your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will probably suggest you come in for a second check up after six months or so. Sometimes, the presence of a cataract may even cause your close-up eyesight to improve temporarily ( a phenomenon called 'second sight') so you might be able to wait quite a while before getting any treatment at all. And rarely, cataracts just stop getting worse after a certain point. In fact, many people successfully delay cataract surgery for years.
With newer surgical techniques it is no longer necessary to wait for a cataract to 'ripen' (become totally opaque) before removal. But once you feel that the cataract is interfering with your everyday activities, it's time to proceed. In almost all of those who have surgery, a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to provide clear sight again. In the small number of cases in which a lens can't be implanted, contact lenses or special cataract glasses with every powerful magnification are used. You shouldn't postpone surgery indefinitely, however. Failing to fix your cataract when you need to could eventually lead to blindness.
Procedures
Even if your doctor says you are developing cataracts in both eyes, only one eye is treated at a time. Before scheduling surgery, an ultrasound evaluation measures your eyeball length. If you are having an artificial intraocular lens implanted, the doctor uses the results of this evaluation to select a lens with the appropriate curvature and power. This enables your vision to return to 'normal' after surgery (though you may still need to wear prescription eyeglasses too).
Surgery for cataracts is safe and reliable, and the success rate for all procedures is greater than 98 percent. No matter which you have, it will take an hour or less and you'll be allowed to go home.
Some precautions are necessary during recuperation but most people can resume normal activity within a couple of weeks.
Several kinds of surgery are recommended. With each, you follow a similar routine. You'll probably be given sedative and a local anaesthetic, but will be awake during the operation. However, if the doctor thinks you might be overly anxious, or if you're allergic to local anaesthetics, you might be given general anaesthesia instead.
Phacomulsification (phaco) is the most common procedure for removing cataracts. To begin, the cataract is emulsified (or shattered) by ultrasound, which reduces the protein in the lens to small extractable pieces (see below). The same ultrasound probe is used to suction out the particles. The surgeon then inserts a 5 mm plastic or silicone intraocular lens through the original incision. Once the lens is positioned and the tube is removed, the tiny slit is either stitched closed or allowed to seal itself. You may need to wear an eye patch, mainly during sleep, for a few weeks after the procedure.
Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is an older and equally effective procedure that some doctors continue to use. Rather than shatter the cataract into tiny bits, the surgeon cuts an exist just wide enough to inject a small quantity of clear gel to keep the space from collapsing. A needle is then inserted into the incision and through the pupil to open the front portion of the lens capsule, and the cataract is then slipped out with tiny forceps. A lens implant is typically done at the same time, and the incision is closed up with several sutures.
PHACOMULSIFICATION SURGERY
During a phaco procedure, ultrasound shatters the cataract, above left, which is then suctioned out. An artificial intraocular lens, above right, is then slipped into the natural lens capsule through the same incision.
Because cataracts don't clear up on their own and there are currently no medications, supplements or eye exercises that can reverse their development, the only way to restore your sight is to surgically remove the original lens before the problem gets worse. That said, if a cataract is at an early stage and not interfering with your vision, your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will probably suggest you come in for a second check up after six months or so. Sometimes, the presence of a cataract may even cause your close-up eyesight to improve temporarily ( a phenomenon called 'second sight') so you might be able to wait quite a while before getting any treatment at all. And rarely, cataracts just stop getting worse after a certain point. In fact, many people successfully delay cataract surgery for years.
With newer surgical techniques it is no longer necessary to wait for a cataract to 'ripen' (become totally opaque) before removal. But once you feel that the cataract is interfering with your everyday activities, it's time to proceed. In almost all of those who have surgery, a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to provide clear sight again. In the small number of cases in which a lens can't be implanted, contact lenses or special cataract glasses with every powerful magnification are used. You shouldn't postpone surgery indefinitely, however. Failing to fix your cataract when you need to could eventually lead to blindness.
Procedures
Even if your doctor says you are developing cataracts in both eyes, only one eye is treated at a time. Before scheduling surgery, an ultrasound evaluation measures your eyeball length. If you are having an artificial intraocular lens implanted, the doctor uses the results of this evaluation to select a lens with the appropriate curvature and power. This enables your vision to return to 'normal' after surgery (though you may still need to wear prescription eyeglasses too).
Surgery for cataracts is safe and reliable, and the success rate for all procedures is greater than 98 percent. No matter which you have, it will take an hour or less and you'll be allowed to go home.
Some precautions are necessary during recuperation but most people can resume normal activity within a couple of weeks.
Several kinds of surgery are recommended. With each, you follow a similar routine. You'll probably be given sedative and a local anaesthetic, but will be awake during the operation. However, if the doctor thinks you might be overly anxious, or if you're allergic to local anaesthetics, you might be given general anaesthesia instead.
Phacomulsification (phaco) is the most common procedure for removing cataracts. To begin, the cataract is emulsified (or shattered) by ultrasound, which reduces the protein in the lens to small extractable pieces (see below). The same ultrasound probe is used to suction out the particles. The surgeon then inserts a 5 mm plastic or silicone intraocular lens through the original incision. Once the lens is positioned and the tube is removed, the tiny slit is either stitched closed or allowed to seal itself. You may need to wear an eye patch, mainly during sleep, for a few weeks after the procedure.
Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is an older and equally effective procedure that some doctors continue to use. Rather than shatter the cataract into tiny bits, the surgeon cuts an exist just wide enough to inject a small quantity of clear gel to keep the space from collapsing. A needle is then inserted into the incision and through the pupil to open the front portion of the lens capsule, and the cataract is then slipped out with tiny forceps. A lens implant is typically done at the same time, and the incision is closed up with several sutures.
PHACOMULSIFICATION SURGERY
During a phaco procedure, ultrasound shatters the cataract, above left, which is then suctioned out. An artificial intraocular lens, above right, is then slipped into the natural lens capsule through the same incision.
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