Cataract surgery on one eye

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed opacification or become cloudy, which is referred to as a cataract. The cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens.

What is Cataract Surgery?

You have likely heard of cataracts since this condition is one of the chief causes of vision loss, particularly among those over 55 years old. However, contrary to what some may think, a cataract is not a growth of skin or tumour over the eye. Instead, cataracts are foggy eye lenses. Here, we will tell you all about cataracts, including treatment in the form of cataract surgery.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is an opacification - or fogging - of the ocular lens. Each of your eyes has a lens that aids in focusing light onto your retina. In turn, your retina receives the light and transmits it along your optic nerves to your brain for interpretation. In essence, this is how you see.

Although cataracts can end up causing total or near-total loss of vision, most cataracts begin with only mild symptoms. The initial symptoms are usually blurred vision, difficulty seeing in bright light, double vision, poor night vision, faded colours, seeing “halos” or “auras” around light sources, and trouble with seeing electronic screens like televisions or computer monitors.

Why do Cataracts Form?

Cataracts form when the tissue that makes up the eye lenses changes. For the vast majority of cataracts, this change is simply the result of aging. Less often, cataracts may form as a result of eye injury. The injury may be caused by exposure to bright light, as seen in welders. The injury may also be eye trauma caused by accident or a foreign body. In a few cases, cataracts may arise from exposure to radiation, such as during certain types of cancer therapies.

While increasing age is the top risk factor for cataract formation, other risk factors include obesity, frequent exposure to bright sunlight without eye protection, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Eye inflammation from disease and previous eye surgeries can also raise your risk for cataracts.

What is Involved in Cataract Surgery?

When vision impairment from cataracts reaches the point that it negatively impacts your daily life, your ophthalmologist may recommend cataract surgery. Cataracts can prevent you from driving, reading, watching television, and more. Cataract surgery is generally very successful and can help restore your vision.

Typically, cataract surgery is in the form of an intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. IOL implantation is a relatively straightforward procedure where your ophthalmologist removes your clouded lens and inserts an artificial lens. Of course, IOL implantation begins with a consultation with your ophthalmologist.

If your ophthalmologist determines that IOL implantation could be helpful in your case, they will take measurements of your eyes, usually using a painless ultrasound procedure. They will also select the best type of IOL for your situation.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will undergo surgery on a single eye at a time. The operation can be carried out in a clinic, and there is typically no need for an overnight stay in hospital. You will be sedated for the procedure, and your surgeon will remove the lens with the cataract. Next, they will insert the IOL and awaken you from sedation.

It is crucial to follow your surgeon’s postoperative instructions. Any discomfort should resolve after a few days, but it may take up to eight weeks for your eye to heal completely. Do not worry - you should have good vision during most of this time. Your new artificial lens will not degenerate over time, and most patients who have undergone cataract surgery enjoy decades of useful vision.