What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

What is the lens?

The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

When are you most likely to have a cataract?

The term “age-related” is a little misleading. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to get this type of cataract. In fact, people can have an age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s. But during middle age, most cataracts are small and do not affect vision. It is after age 60 that most cataracts cause problems with a person’s vision.

Who is at risk for cataract?

The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include:

• • Certain diseases (for example, diabetes).

• • Personal behavior (smoking, alcohol use).

• The environment (prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight).

What are the symptoms of a cataract?

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

• • Cloudy or blurry vision.

• • Colors seem faded.

• • Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.

• • Poor night vision.

• • Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)

• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

These symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, check with your eye care professional.

Are there different types of cataract?

Yes. Although most cataracts are related to aging, there are other types of cataract:

1. 1. Secondary cataract. Cataracts can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma. Cataracts also can develop in people who have other health problems, such as diabetes. Cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.

1. 1. Traumatic cataract. Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later.

1. 1. Congenital cataract. Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed.

1. Radiation cataract. Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.

How is a cataract detected?

Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes:

1. 1. Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

1. Dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

Your eye care professional also may do other tests to learn more about the structure and health of your eye.

How is a cataract treated?

The symptoms of early cataract may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye care professional can make this decision together.

How the Cataract Surgery is done?

With the latest machine and top of the line microscopes, Cataract surgery is now one of the safe surgery.

The procedure typically is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility.

Most modern cataract procedures involve the use of a high-frequency ultrasound device that breaks up the cloudy lens into small pieces, which are then gently removed from the eye with suction through a very small 2.2 mm to 2.4 mm corneal incision.

This procedure, called phacoemulsification or “phaco,” can be performed with smaller incisions than previous surgical techniques for cataract removal, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of cataract surgery complications.

After all remnants of the cloudy lens have been removed from your eye, the cataract surgeon inserts a clear intraocular lens, positioning it in a bag, in the same location your natural lens occupied. (In special cases, an IOL might be placed in front of the iris and pupil, but this is less common.)

The surgeon then completes the cataract removal and IOL implantation procedure by closing the incision in your eye. A protective shield may place over the eye for an hour to keep it safe in the early stages of your cataract surgery recovery.

LASER CATARACT SURGERY

The femtosecond lasers have gained approval for the following steps in cataract surgery, reducing the need for surgical blades and other hand-held tools:

1. 1. Creating corneal incisions to allow the surgeon access to the lens

1. 1. Removing the anterior capsule of the lens

1. 1. Fragmenting the cataract (so less ultrasound energy is required to break it up and remove it)

1. Creating peripheral corneal incisions to reduce astigmatism (when needed)

Laser Cataract Surgery (or, more accurately, laser-assisted cataract surgery) is fairly new and significantly increases cataract surgery costs for a surgeon to purchase and there are other significant costs associated with the use and maintenance of this technology.

While studies have shown that lasers can improve accuracy during certain steps of cataract surgery.