CATARACT
If the lens becomes cloudy, the light reaching the retina is
blurred and distorted, and your vision is affected. This clouded lens is called
a cataract, and it must be removed for vision to be
restored. A clouded lens can be compared to a window that is frosted or
"fogged" with steam. Cataracts are treated with a surgical
procedure that has become fairly common procedure in India.
The two most common types of cataracts are: cortical cataract and a posterior
subcapsular cataract. Depending on the type of cataract, a patient will
experience different visual problems, but the most common cataract
symptoms include:
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Blurring vision.
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Sensitivity to light or glare.
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Double vision in one eye.
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Poor night vision.
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Needing brighter light to read.
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Experiencing fading or yellowing of colors
If the cloudiness is not near the center of the lens, you may
not be aware that you have a cataract.
Age-Related Cataracts
Many cataracts take years to develop to the point where vision is seriously
affected. Most occur as a result of the normal aging process. The types of
age-related cataract are usually described by their location in the lens. They
are: nuclear cataracts, cortical cataracts and subcapsular cataracts.
Nuclear cataracts occur in the center of the lens and may induce other eye
problems, such as myopia. A cortical cataract, which tends to occur more in
persons with diabetes, begins at the outer portion of the lens, then slowly
moves inward. Subcapsular cataracts develop under the capsule, often at the
back of the lens. This type of cataract also occurs more in persons with
diabetes, but it is also found in persons with high myopia, adults with
retinitis pigmentosa and in people who take steroids.
Other Types of Cataracts
There are other kinds of cataracts not related to the aging process. Traumatic
cataracts develop as a result of an eye injury. Others can develop from
metabolic blood disorders, eye infections and inflammations and certain types
of medications.
Another type, called congenital cataract, occurs at birth, particularly if the
mother has had rubella (German measles) during pregnancy.
Research continues to look for ways to prevent cataracts. Until then, useful
vision can be restored in 98 percent of all patients who have normal, healthy
eyes after surgery.
INVESTIGATIONS
IOL Master: A new dimension in optical biometry to improve your postoperative
refractive results.
Advantages
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Measuring precisely: exact measurement of the eye is
possible even in case of high ametropia, pupil size as well as state of
accommodation.
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Non contact Technique: no requirement of local
anesthesia, no risk of infection from patient to patient.
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Saves time: axial length, corneal curvature and
anterior chamber depth of the patient's eye are measured on the same instrument
saving valuable time.
PAM: Gives an estimate of potential vision following
cataract surgery. The potential acuity meter (PAM) is a device that is designed
to project an eyechart directly onto the retina, in essence bypassing the
cloudy lens. For patients with retinal disease, such as age related macular
degeneration, the PAM may improve the reliability of anticipated vision
following cataract surgery. The Super Pinhole device works on a different
principle, but may deliver the same result. The patient views a specialized eye
chart through a pinhole in an attempt to discover a clearer region in the
cataract. Both of these potential acuity measurements may overestimate, or
underestimate, the vision achieved after cataract surgery.
TREATMENTS
Cataracts can be removed at any age. You no longer have to wait until the
cataract "ripens" or until you lose your sight before surgery can be performed.
In fact, the placement of an intraocular lens (IOL) implant to restore vision
is best done in an eye when the cataract interferes with your daily activities
or causes a decrease in vision.
The clouded lens (cataract) must be removed surgically. Common type of
extracapsular cataract extraction is phacoemulsification (often just called
"phaco"), which the general public understands as Laser cataract surgery.
ABOUT PHACOEMULSIFICATION
Dr. Charles Kelmen conceived and developed phacoemulsification, a method of
cataract removal by ultrasonic fragmentation and aspiration of the cataractous
lens through a small wound. Phacoemulsification is advantageous for both
patients and surgeon.
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Greater intraoperative control.
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The smaller wound with no sutures, poses less risk of
infection and induced astigmatism and gives better long and short term
predictability of vision.
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Patients are able to resume normal activity much sooner and
with fewer restrictions for shorter duration of time than the traditional
cataract surgery.
Phacoemulsification with a sophisticated instrumentation provides option of
pulse and burst mode.
For more details you can Email at
cataract@adityajyot.org
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