Cataract
Cataract is a clouding of the normally clear natural lens in the eye. This blocks the light from reaching the retina and causes unclear vision. As the cataract progresses, it causes hazy vision and may interfere with your daily activities.
Cataract usually develops in people older than 45 years of age and as the vision deteriorates, the only available treatment for cataract is surgery. As the disease progresses, it leads to painless, progressive decrease in vision which can also result in a poor quality of life, interfering with day-to-day activities like driving and reading.
Type Of Cataract
Congenital Cataract: Cataracts in children are rare. They can be caused by infection of the mother during pregnancy, or they may be hereditary.
Secondary Cataract: Eye diseases like glaucoma, iritis, eye tumours, and diabetes may cause cataracts.
Traumatic Cataract: Eye injuries may cause cataracts in patients of any age.
Drug-induced Cataract: Prolonged treatment with steroid drugs, either for local (e.g., allergic conjunctivitis) or systemic diseases (e.g., asthma, skin allergies & joint pains) may lead to cataract formation.
Senile Cataract: This is the most common type of cataract, comprising 80 percent of the total cataracts. It occurs in patients usually above the age of 50.
A healthy lifestyle helps prevent cataract, but in case if it happens, it is managed by spectacles. However, as the disease progresses, or if the central vision deteriorates, the only option for its management is a surgery. Cataract surgery in Faridabad entails sucking out the natural lens after emulsifying it inside the eye by a process known as phacoemulsification. After this, a customized, artificial intraocular lens (called IOL) is placed in its position which restores natural and normal vision.
Type Of Cataract
Cataract formation is not associated with “signals” such as pain, redness or tearing. The common symptoms are:
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Double vision.
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Yellowing of colours.
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Glare & sensitivity to light.
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Blurring or dimness of vision.
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Increasing difficulty with vision at night specially while driving.
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Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription.
Note : Don’t wait for surgery till the cataract matures completely. Surgery can be done in any season with the help of Modern Technology (PHACO Emulsification- No Stitch Technique). It is not necessary to take bed rest or take any special precaution after surgery. A cataract which creates problem in daily work should be operated upon immediately.
To be a middle of excellence in eye care services with Comprehensive, affordable and ethical practices and attention on extending equitable and efficient eye care to underprivileged
Cataract Treatment In Faridabad
There is no medication for treating cataract, but surgery has long proven to be an effective treatment for the disorder. With the advancement in technology, it is now safer, to get a surgery, than ever to get your vision corrected with minimal risks involved.
If cataracts affect both eyes, each eye operation is scheduled and performed separately.
The common surgical procedures are:
Phacoemulsification (Phaco) Surgery
It is a no stitch micro incision cataract surgery. IOL is implanted and the wound is closed without any stitches.
A microprocessor controlled ‘PHACO’ machine- with tiny ultrasonic probe is used to remove cataract and a foldable intraocular lens implant is inserted through the smallest possible incision in the eye. PHACO uses ultrasound energy to liquefy lens and suck it out with a titanium probe . The minute incision is self sealing and needs no suture or stitch to close it.
Since the incision is very small, no sutures are required and the patient recovery is faster. The patient spends less than 30 minutes in the operating room and the surgery itself takes less than 15-20 minutes.
It involves removal of the clouded lens matter as one piece leaving the bag intact. The technique therefore requires larger incision with sutures. A rigid artificial lens (IOL) is then placed in the bag. It is rarely used these days due to the large incision. Visual recovery is often slower.
Intracapsular Cataract Surgery (ICCS)
In this technique, both the lens and the lens bag are removed. This technique is now performed only in very rare cases but can be useful in special cases as in after significant eye trauma.
Once the lens is removed, it may be replaced by one of the three options:
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An intraocular lens (an artificial lens placed in the eye during cataract surgery);
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A contact lens; or
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Special cataract glasses with very powerful magnification.
Currently, about 99 percent or more of patients use an intraocular lens.
Conventional Surgery
Traditional cataract surgery requires a large incision that spans the third of the circumference of the cornea (7-9mm). The cloudy lens is removed as a single piece. As many as seven stitches are required to close it after implanting an IOL (Intra Ocular Lens). One has to use pad bandage, dark glasses and eye shield and take recommended precautions in the post operative period for up to six weeks.
Latest Surgical Techniques for Cataract Management Used
Microincision or Regular Phaco Cataract Surgery
In conventional phacoemulsification and Microincision cataract surgery, a capsulotomy is performed manually using forceps or a bent needle. It is through this opening that the ultrasound emulsifies the natural lens of the eye before it is sucked out of the eye using a vacuum. When performed manually, this capsulotomy is not perfectly circular, and in some cases, the capsulotomy may “run” to one side, resulting in a tear of the capsular bag. This means that the IOL implanted may not as stable as it should be.
Note : Some of the medications that can interfere with the surgery include:
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Blood thinners including heparin, warfarin, aspirin, dispirin.
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Anti prostate hypertrophy drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The operated eye is patched for 2-3 hours after surgery. The patient is instructed to use eye drops after surgery for 3-4 weeks. Mild discomfort, irritation, watering, itching is common after surgery which usually reduces within 2-3 days. The patient is instructed to avoid rubbing or pressing the eye. The patient should also avoid exposure of the operated eye to dirty water, cloth or hands to reduce the risk of infection. Most of the restrictions apply only for a week after which the patient can continue with normal daily routine. There are no dietary restrictions and the patient can continue to perform light household chores or professional work immediately after the surgery.
Established in 2004, the first hospital of its kind in Faridabad, equipped with the best instruments and facilities available at that time. The eye care center is committed to providing patients with the best possible eye care while maintaining the highest levels of honesty and integrity. The eye care center attracts patients from all corners of India and from abroad and caters to an average of 25,000 patient visits per year with over 2000 major and minor surgeries annually which include Cataract, Retina, Occuloplasty, Glaucoma, Squint, Lasik, Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft etc.
The hospital has its own pharmacy and optical counter.
A variety of foldable lenses are available and vary according to the material and the optics. The lenses can be made of either Hydrophobic acrylic, Hydrophilic acrylic or Silicone. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages of each material and the suitability of each type for a patient needs to be discussed with the eye surgeon.
The lenses also vary according to the optics and includes monofocal, monofocal aspheric, toric, and multifocal IOLs
Foldable lenses are made of soft material and can be implanted in the eye through the small incision of phaco surgery. Rigid lenses require larger incision for implantation during surgery and are thus used only during ECCE or ICCE.
The artificial lenses implanted inside the eye during cataract surgery are intended to remain permanently in place and require no maintenance or handling. They are neither felt by the patient nor noticed by others
Intra Ocular lens (IOL) is a tiny transparent convex lens to replace the cloudy cataractous lens in the eye. It is made of different materials like PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, a harmless plastic substance), Silicon & Acrylic (Hydrophillic & Hydrophobic). Unlike contact lens, an IOL stays permanently in the eye and does not cause irritation. A foldable IOL is inserted into the eye through a device called IOL Injector through a small incision of 2-3 mm dimension.
At Drishti Eye Centre we use the best quality Foldable Imported IOL’s of reputed multinational companies.
Advantages of IOL:-
Since the lens is placed inside the eye, most patients do not need glasses for clear distance vision. But patient has to wear reading glasses for near and intermediate vision tasks.
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Images are clear and of the same dimension without distortion.
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Full vision returns quickly.
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Normal field of vision.