What is a Cataract

1. Whatisa Cataract? Likea camera,theeye seeswhen lightentersit.Insideyoureyeis anaturalclearlens,much likethelensofa camera.Itfocuses thelightrayscomingthroughthepupilontothe retinaat the back of the eye. Thedifferent parts ofthe retina collectthis light and send amessageto your brain, enablingyouto see. • Forperfect visionthe lensshould be clearsothatlight can pass through it.Light enters throughthecornea,passesthroughyournaturallensandisfocusedontoyourretina,resulting in clear vision • When thelensbecomescloudyoropaque,lightcannotpassthroughit.Cataractscattersthe lightrays passingthrough the eye,thus resultinginblurred vision. Acataractis a condition whenthenaturallensinsideyoureyesgetscloudy.Comparedtovisionwithaclearlens,your vision with a cataract maylook fuzzy, colors mightbe muted, andyou mayexperience difficulty in reading signs while driving at night. The symptoms of cataracts are progressive andcannotbecorrectedwithglassesorcontacts.Whensymptomsbecomebothersomeor • limityour dailyactivities,it’stime toconsidertreatment. • Whatcausescataract? • Themostcommoncauseofcataractisdegenerativechangesdue tothe ageing process.With age,proteinsinthenaturallensdegenerate,resulting inacloudedlenscalleda cataract.There might be othercauses such as: • Healthconditionslikediabetes,kidneydisease,glaucoma,smoking,eyeinjuries,infection, and inflammationinsidetheeye • Prolongeduseofcertain medicationscanalsoleadtocataractformation • Cataractmayalsooccurinchildrenduetogeneticormetabolicdefectorduetoinfectionand trauma • Whatarethesymptomsofcataract? • Ifyouhavecataract,youmayexperience someor all of thefollowingsymptoms. • Cloudyvision • Colorsofobjectsmayappearfaded • Pooreyesightatnight • Difficultyindrivingatnight, especiallybecauseoftheglare oflights • Difficultyinreadingin dim light

2. Coloredhaloes • You maysee multipleimagesordouble images • How canthe cataract be removed? • Incataractsurgeryyournaturalcloudedlenswillbereplaced byanartificialintraocular lens (IOL).Thislenshelps theincominglightrays to focusproperlyonyourretina, thus enablingyou to see clearly.Your newlens shouldbe able to restore vision to nearlywhat it wasearlier,thoughyoumayneedto wearglassesforreading ordriving. • ThelensoptionsincludeMONOFOCALlenses–correctsdistancevision,andbifocallens– correctsdistanceandnearvisionandtrifocallenscorrectsdistance,intermediateandnear vision.In some caseswhen theshape of the eyeisnot circularresultingindistorted vision– a conditioncalledasastigmatism,anoptionof customized“toricmonofocallenses” or“toric multifocal lenses” can beused. • What surgicaltechniques areavailableatojasto remove the cataract? • OJasoffersvariousadvanced,cuttingedge surgicaltechniquestotreatcataract.Basedon the typeofcataractyouhave,yourhealthconditionandyourlifestyle,theOphthalmologistwill recommendthebestsuitableoptionforyou. The three commonlyusedsurgicaltechniques are:- • SmallIncisionCataractSurgery(SICS): • This isalsoanewtechnique where thecataractisremovedmanuallythrough a slightlylarger incision. This techniqueis used ifyourcataractis excessivelyhard, making phacoemulsification difficult.This is rarelyused • Phacoemulsification: • Inthis methodatinyinstrumentis insertedthroughasmallincision–(approximately2.2–2.8 mm wide). • Ultrasoundvibrationsbreak the cataract intotinypieces. • Thesepieces aregentlysuctionedoutbyvacuum. • Usuallyno stitches arerequired to closethe incision. This minimallyinvasive surgeryallows faster and safer healing,andyoucanreturn toyournormalactivities inno time.