Cataract Treatment in Delhi, India

The lens is made mostly of water and protein. The protein is arranged to let light pass through and focus on the retina. Sometimes some of the protein clumps together and starts to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it hard to see.

Although researchers are learning more about cataracts, no one knows for sure what causes them. Scientists think there may be several causes, including smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes as it ages. There is also some evidence that cataracts are linked to certain vitamins and minerals. Exposure to ultra-violet light has definite role in the formation of cataract.

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Problems with light, such as headlights that seem too bright at night, glare from lamps or the sun, or a halo or haze around lights 
• Colours seem faded 
• Double or multiple vision (this symptom goes away as the cataract grows) 
• Frequent changes in eye glasses or contact lenses

These symptoms can also be a sign of other eye problems. In the event of any of these symptoms please consult an eye surgeon. In early cataract one may not notice any changes in vision. Cataract tends to grow slowly, so vision worsens gradually. Some people with a cataract find that their near vision suddenly improves (phenomenon of second-sight), but this is temporary. Vision is likely to get worse again as the cataract grows.

• Age-Related Cataract: Most cataracts are related to aging.
• Congenital Cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may not affect vision. If they do, they may need to be removed.
• Secondary Cataract: Cataracts are more likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, such as diabetes. Also, cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.
• Traumatic Cataract: Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later.

A comprehensive eye examination usually includes:

• Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well you can see at various distances.
• Pupil dilation: The pupil is widened with eye-drops to allow us to see more of the retina and look for other eye problems.
• Tonometry: This is a standard test to measure eye pressure. Increased pressure may cause glaucoma.
• Ultrasound (Biometry): This is used to calculate the power of the lens to be implanted. Other eye and general test may be required to establish a complete diagnosis and fitness for cataract surgery.

The cataract treatment is essentially surgical and the timing is decided by the patient's visual needs. A cataract needs to be removed only if it affects one's vision so much that it interferes with one's daily activities. The patient makes that decision himself. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the operation on the two eyes is performed preferably in an interval of one month (unless there is any emergency).

Phacoemulsification

Intra-Ocular Lenses (IOL)

SICS (Small Incision Cataract Surgery)

Most people after laser cataract surgery can go home the same day. It's normal to feel itching, sticky eyelids, and mild discomfort for a while after the surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. In most cases, reasonable amount of healing will take about 4 weeks. Mild pain, irritation, redness and watering is common occurrence after cataract surgery but subsides in a few days. Problems after surgery are uncommon, but they can occur.

These can include infection (in severe cases Endophthalmitis), bleeding, higher pressure inside the eye (glaucoma), inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), haziness of the cornea and detachment of the retina. Any such problem should be immediately reported to the eye surgeon especially in the event of unusual pain, loss of vision, or flashing lights.

Regular eye examinations after the age of 50 years are mandatory to detect eye diseases early and to institute timely cataract treatment. Prevention of exposure to UV rays by regular use of UV protective sun glasses may confer certain degree of protection. However, any research or studies do not support this conjecture.

The word 'cataract' brings up a lot of anxiety, doubts, myths, queries and fear in the mind of the person who reacted to it, or his/her kin. This brochure aims to clear such doubts and myths and educate you about cataract and its current methods of eye cataract operation.

When Does the Vision Become Normal?

After the surgery, you can read and watch TV almost right away, but your vision may be blurry. The healing eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. This healing period may take many weeks. With an IOL, for example, you may notice that colors have a blue tinge, and that after you've been in bright sunlight, everything is reddish for a few hours. It doesn't take long to adjust to these changes.

What is an "After-Cataract"?

Sometimes people after cataract surgery develop an opacification of the lens capsule on which the lens is placed. This is called after-cataract. This can easily be treated by a Laser called YAG Laser which makes a small opening in the capsule - YAG Capsulotomy.

When Does Cataract Develop?

Cataract may develop at any age - right from birth to old age - but is most commonly seen in the elderly, after the age of sixty. By the age of ninety almost 98% of the people have had some degree of cataract.

What Should One Do?

• Do I have cataract?
  
• Do I have any other eye disease?
• What is the cause of cataract in my eye?
• What are the treatment modalities available?
• What treatment would be most suitable for me?
• What is the expected outcome of the surgery in my case?
• What are the risks involved and possible complications?
• How long can I wait before I get operated?
• What does the surgery involve in terms of time and expenditure?

What is the Lens of the Eye?

The lens is the part of the eye that along with cornea helps focus light onto the retina. The retina is the eye's light-sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain. The lens is located just behind the iris, the coloured (brown, blue or green) part of the eye. In focusing (accommodation), the lens changes shape. It becomes more convex (curved) when you look at nearby objects and flatter for distant objects.

How is a Cataract Removed?

Currently, phacoemulsification with a foldable intraocular lens implantation through a 3 mm incision is the most preferred method of cataract surgery and has the best results, all over the world. Other types of operations are performed in special circumstances.

Currently, lasers are not commonly used to remove cataract (although some patients mistakenly use the term Laser for Phacoemulsification). Research is under way to use lasers-Dodick in cataract surgery and some success has been reported.

Is Cataract Surgery Effective?

Today, cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in India. It is also one of the safest and most effective. More than 90 percent of the people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterwards.

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