Cataract Surgery: Types, Pros And Cons; Expert Explains Everything You Need To Know

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"I was blind, but now I see," JOHN 9:25; what Jesus cited a million years ago is precisely what a cataract surgery does to your eyesight----helps you see better. The National Programme for Control of Blindness states that a whopping 12 million people are blind in India, out of which 80.1% are due to cataracts alone. So yes, if you have been procrastinating about getting the cataract surgery procedure done, now is the time to go ahead with it.

Am I a candidate for cataract surgery?

The initial phases of cataracts are undetectable until the deposits have thickened. The ophthalmologist will recommend surgery when the following signs and symptoms occur:

1. blurred vision,
2. dim vision,
3. poor night vision,
4. inadequate colour vision and
5. eyes sensitive to sunlight and bright bulbs.

When do you need cataract surgery?

The eyes have a lens behind the iris ( the coloured centre of the eye ). The lens concentrates the light so that your eye and brain can process information to create a picture. These lenses develop protein deposits with age that cause blurry vision, leading to a condition called cataracts. Cataract surgery will clear all opacities and restore your vision.

Types Of Surgeries:

They are two types of surgeries when it comes to cataracts:

1. Small incision ( small surgical cut ) type

Phacoemulsification, popularly known as "phaco," is one of these techniques. A tiny cut about 2 mm long is made in the cornea to insert an ultrasonic probe to access the lens. The vibration from the probe fractures the cataract and suctions its residues. This follows the placement of the IOL (intraocular lens).

Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). This involves a relatively larger V-shaped incision. The surgery involves a manual approach of extracting the eye lens to replace it.

2. Laser Surgery

By far the best and latest. Medically referred to as Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), it involves a camera or an ultrasound device placed over an open eye that precisely locates the lens position. This follows incising of the cornea with a laser beam and accessing the lens to soften the cataract and remove it.
The laser used can also cure any history of astigmatism (an improper curvature of the eye causing blurry vision).

Pros Of Cataract Surgery: There is virtually no physical contact between the eye surgeon's hands or instruments with the eye. Hence, it is minimally invasive, with lesser chances of infection, and has rapid healing.

Cons Of Cataract Surgery: Cataract surgeries will not be easy on your pocket and this is the only disadvantage if you are planning to go forward with it.

How do you prepare yourself for the upcoming cataract surgery?

Breathe! All the technicalities mentioned above were not meant to scare you, but rather to educate you as a patient.

• The ultrasounds and eye measurements are taken prior. The patient is advised to use preparatory eye drops for a few days before surgery. The night before, you are advised to go without solid food for at least 6 hours. No alcohol intake, of course.

• The entire procedure ( Phaco / Laser ) takes just about 20 to 30 minutes and is performed in a minor OT. No hospital admission is required.

• The eye is numbed with drops or injections and kept open (no! You do not get to see things going into your eye ). However, the entire time, you stay conscious. Sedatives are available for apprehensive patients. Depending on the type of surgery recommended, the cataract is removed and the lens implant is securely fixed.

• The wound won't need stitches because it will heal itself.

• The eye is covered during the initial stages of recovery by wearing dark glasses. Your surgeon will typically wait a few days or weeks if both eyes need to be operated on. This window of time gives the first eye a chance to heal and enables the surgeon to evaluate the outcome.

  Conclusion

  Complete healing could take a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, apply the eye drops and take the medication diligently. You will be advised to wear sunglasses for protection from light. And last but not the least, do not keep touching your eye.