WHAT IS CATARACT?
The eye is a camera-like optical system. For the light and images coming from outside to reach the vision center clearly, they should initially be refracted in the cornea which is the outmost transparent layer of eye and then in the lens layer inside the eye. Under usual conditions, both these layers have a transparent structure. Cataract is that, the lens inside the eye loses its transparency and turns into an opaque appearence.Cataract
Having many types, cataracts can be studied under 3 main groups:
- Cataracts related to age
- Congenital cataracts
- Secondary cataracts: which occur due to long-term usage of some medicines (like steroids), beats, metabolical deseases (like diabetes)
Cataract arises most often depending on age. Although there is no identified cause, many risk factors like nutrition or ultraviolet beams exist. Patients initially complain for nearsightedness or farsightedness according to the opacification situation of lens. As the opacification increases, the talent for nearsight vision and far sight vision decreases so much that it causes disturbance in patient’s social life.
What are the Reasons of Cataract Formation?
- The most common type of cataract is associated with aging.
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Eye injuries
- Medicines like steroid
- Intraocular inflammations
- Unprotected sun exposure for a long time
- Previous eye surgeries
What Are The Sympoms of Cataract?
- Gradual reduction in vision
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Double vision
- Difficulty of reading
- Degradation of night vision
- Color fades or color yellowing
When the complaint comes out, surgery should take place. There is no need to wait as waiting complicates the surgery.
How Is Cataract Cured?
Cataract has no medication treatment. The only treatment is surgery. By improvement of modern technics, cataract operations are managed without injection, anaesthesia and pain but only by eye-numbing drops so the patient can return home on the same day. If blurred vision is at such a level to disturb the daily activities (difficulty in reading, difficulty in watching TV, difficulty in driving), specialist doctors decide to give the surgery as per the patient’s needs.
By medication, eye drops, exercises and spectacles, kataract cannot be abolished. The only way for recovery is to replace the cataracted lens inside the eye with a transparent intraocular lens.
What Should be Considered Before the Surgery?
Aspirin and similar blood-thinning medicines should be left consulting your doctor.
Medication for systemic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, etc. should not be quit on surgery day. Insulin dose, oral antidiabetic treatment and diet should be maintained as usual. Bring your systemic medicines with you on surgery day.
Wash your face thoroughly, don’t make up and don’t use lotion and perfume on surgery day
Keep a companion with you.
How is Cataract Treatment Run?
Since cataract has no treatment by medication, only solution is surgery. During operation, lens layer which has lost its transparency is removed and replaced with an artificial pliable lens so that the patient is allowed to see well again. Today, phacoemulsification method is the most advanced one used in cataract surgeries. The consistent lens layer is taken out by the help of ultrasonographic waves protecting its posterior capsule and intraocular lenses which adopt more easily into the eye, are placed. Advantage of this method is accomplishment of whole surgery through a tiny corneal incision (2,2 mm) and not putting any stitch into the eye. So, no astigmatism occurs due to stitch and the patient can regain functional vision within very short time. FDA approved lenses are used in our hospital. Soon after the surgery, patients can return to their normal social lives.
Cataract operation has a very high success rate and the biggest advangate is the achievement of visual clarity in a short time. 2 eyes cannot be operated simultaneously.
FDA approved Alcon brand lenses are used in our hospital
What happens if Cataract is not treated?
- Nearsightedness or farsightedness occurs or visual function is lost.
- Increase in intraocular pressure may be observed.
- Visual laziness may progress.
- It may cause inflammations in the eye called uveitis.
- Diagnosis and treatment of intraocular problems gets difficult because visual center and retina cannot be monitored in the examination.
How is Laser Used İn Cataract Surgery?
Cataract’s treatment is surgical. In lasered cataract surgery, principles of phacoemulsification technique are used, the difference is laser rays are used in the fragmentation of lens instead of ultrasonograpgic waves. Since the corneal incision is small, stitch is not needed and recovery is fast.
Does Cataract Relapse?
Cataract does not relapse. But in 20% of patients who have had normal cataract surgery, regardless of the type of surgical technique, intensification may come out in the capsule where the intraocular lens is settled. This intensified layer is opened by a fragmentor laser called YAG. But this is a post-operation treatment not surgical. Immediately after Yag Laser treatment, one can return to his daily activities.
What Should be Taken Care of After the Operation?
- Don’t rub and press your eye after the surgery.
- If you will go out, use protective spectacles and eye bandage under windy and sunny weather.
- Use your prescription regularly given by your doctor
- About 3 (three) days after the surgery, your doctor may prescribe spectacles for you in case of need.