Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
Cataract Surgery
What is a cataract?
A cataract occurs when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. The cataract lies behind the iris, the coloured part of the eye. This lens is clear in a normal, healthy eye, and it is responsible for focusing light rays to the retina, the back of the eye. The retina is responsible for sending messages to the brain, which then allows us to see.
When a cataract develops, it prevents the light rays from passing on to the retina. The picture the retina receives becomes fuzzy and dull. Cataracts normally develop slowly, and most people experience this as a gradual blurring of vision.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is a procedure where the ophthalmologist removes the lens of your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens. This is performed as an outpatient procedure. During the surgery, Dr Beatty will make a small incision on the front of your eye and insert a small instrument which will then break up the cataract and gently suction it out. He will then replace the lens with a new lens which may be made up of plastic, silicone, or acrylic. The ophthalmologist will stitch close the cut. If you have cataracts on both eyes, then you will undergo separate surgeries which will be a few weeks apart, to allow the first eye to heal.
Do cataracts spread from eye to eye?
No, cataracts do not spread, but they often develop in both eyes simultaneously.
No, you will still need to use reading glasses. This occurs after the age of approximately 45-50 years of age. It is due to normal physiological changes of the eye as the lens starts to age.
Yes, cataracts may be caused by injuries to the eye, certain diseases, particularly diabetes and some drugs such as steroids. Some babies are born with cataracts, which is called congenital cataracts.
Most forms of cataracts develop in adulthood; this is called an age-related cataract. It is common and may occur in people who are 40 years and above.
When the cataract progresses and starts to interfere with your daily activities and normal lifestyle. Then cataract surgery is usually recommended.
The main goal of cataract surgery is to remove the cataract. Although the quality of sight should improve after surgery, glasses will be needed for perfect vision.
There is no known prevention for cataract. Modern surgery is highly successful for the majority of patients.
No, surgery is the only way to remove cataracts. It cannot be removed by laser.
No, but it's common for cataracts to develop more quickly in one eye than in the other. The ophthalmologist will decide the timing of the surgery. Usually, the more seriously affected eye is treated first.
Yes, the ophthalmologist or a nurse will do special tests to measure your eye. This helps the ophthalmologist decide the strength of the intraocular lens that will replace your natural lens. However, even with the most sophisticated equipment, it cannot guarantee that the lens chosen will be the perfect match for your eye, but it will be very close.
Dr James Beatty will perform the surgery using a microscope. The eye will not be removed and replaced during the cataract surgery. Most cataracts are removed with a procedure called phacoemulsification. During this procedure, the ophthalmologist will use sound waves to soften the lens, and a small tube to suction the lens out. The back layer of the lens is then left behind, and the new lens is placed in front of it. Sometimes very fine nylon stitches are used to close the wound, which may be removed in the clinic at a later appointment. This is a painless procedure.
Cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthesia. This is given in the form of eye drops or an injection around the eye. You will be awake during the surgery and will be aware of the bright light, but won't be able to see what is happening. Alternatively, the ophthalmologist or patient may decide to make use of general anaesthesia.
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