All About Cataract Operations

Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson

NHS reports indicate that there are only three victims of childhood cataract in every 10,000 children in the UK. The peculiarity of this disease is that it continues to develop until a cataract operation is performed to restore normal vision. It is one of the simplest forms of vision surgery. A majority of the operations have zero complications and patients can usually see the world normally within 24 hours.

The presence of a cataract is confirmed by an eye specialist during a pre-operative evaluation. The eye examination also determines if surgery is advisable.

Cataract operations aim to remove the cloudy formations that exist in the front portion of the eye lens. These cloudy patches affect the path of light from the environment to the lens, causing blurred vision. If the cloud is not removed surgically, the opaque regions in the front part of the eye lens continue to develop. At an advanced stage, cataract clouds lead to complete blindness.

The cloudy patches of the lens are removed through a surgical process called phacoemulsification. It is a simple technique as compared to eye operations such as lasik laser eye surgery or wet macular degeneration. This surgery is performed under the effect of local anaesthesia and usually takes only 15 to 20 minutes. General anaesthesia or sedatives are only given to patients with hyperactivity during the operation.

After applying eye drops containing local anaesthesia, the doctor will make a small cut in the topmost layer of the eye. Special equipment that can emit ultrasound energy is used to break the lens affected by cloudy patches. The lens is then removed while the capsule that holds the lens inside the eye is conserved for reuse. An artificial lens, called intraocular lens, is planted inside the eye. Made up of plastic or silicone, intraocular lenses are available with different focal length to suit the individual requirements of various patients.

A cataract operation is painless, however, a few patients experience itching and mild irritation. Such symptoms disappear within two days of the operation. Initially, the patient may experience blurry vision, as the optical nerves are not accustomed to the new lens. The eye doctor may ask a patient to wear dark shaded protective glasses to shield the eyes from dust and high intensity light. Normal vision resumes within four to six hours after the cataract operation. With a month, the patient is able to experience optimum visibility. Do not strain your eyes or exposing them to chemicals during the first few weeks after the surgery.

Cataract operations typically do not involve any risk. Some of the complications that may arise during the surgery are:

The capsule supporting the artificial lens may swell, causing impaired vision. This can be easily corrected with a minor laser treatment.

The new lens implanted in the eye may move from its original placement. This will require another surgery to fix the problem. Follow post operation care recommended by the surgeon to avoid such issues.

For optimum results, select an eye-speciality hospital for cataract operations or for more complex techniques like lasik laser eye surgery or wet macular degeneration. Look on the internet for a specialist provider of ophthalmic services. If you are going private, then you will be looking for an eye hospital with private eye care facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and employing experienced eye surgeons.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson - how cataract operations have changed the lives of many in the UK. Wet macular degeneration.

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