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cataract precision laser

What Is a Cataract?

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A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. Cataracts affect millions of people each year. Most cataracts are the result of aging, though some form as a result of other conditions such as diabetes. Cataract surgery is common and is considered safe and effective. Cataract surgery is performed to improve vision by replacing the clouded lens with an artificial one. Because catarcts are age related they can occur with other conditions like ptosis which is also age related. Click here for more information on ptosis. Here at The Oculoplastic and Cataract Centre we are equipt to deal with both these problems.

normal lens and cataract lens
cataract images
  • Who Is A Good Candidate For Cataract Surgery?
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Cataracts caused by aging develop gradually, and patients may not notice the early vision changes they cause. It is only when their cataracts start interfering with vision that patients may become aware of them. An ophthalmic examination will detect cataracts, and rule out other causes for vision issues. Patients who become aware of visual difficulties related to cataracts usually experience, especially at night, clouded, blurred or dim vision. These patients are good candidates for cataract surgery.

 
  • WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CATARACT SURGERY?
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Cataract surgery’s benefits are many, greatly enhancing the quality of life. They include the following:

  • Improved quality of vision (sharper images, brighter colors)

  • Less difficulty with routine tasks (particularly night driving)

  • Decreased dependency on eyeglasses

  • Greater independence, regardless of age or disability

  • Greater safety

Research indicates that the improved vision provided by cataract surgery reduces the risk of falls, making exercise, sports and hobbies safer. This, combined with the improved ability to drive, read, recognize faces, and perform everyday activities with greater ease, results in improved physical health, increased sociability and longer life expectancy.

 

  • HOW IS CATARACT SURGERY PERFORMED?
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Surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis in a special operating theater under local anaesthetic, takes only 20 to 30 minutes, and is painless. You go home the same day.

Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with over 3 million procedures every year. Once the cataract is removed, it is replaced with an artificial replacement lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). Sutures are usually not required.

IOL intraocular lens
  • WHEN IS CATARACT SURGERY NEEDED?
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Cataracts can cause blurry vision and increase the glare from lights. In their early stages, cataracts usually are not troublesome but, as they grow, surgery to remove them may be required. Typically, surgery is needed because cataracts are interfering with everyday activities particularly night driving, or the treatment of another eye problem.

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  • WILL I NEED TO HAVE SURGERY ON BOTH EYES?
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Cataracts usually develop together. The factors that led to one eye developing a cataract also are likely to affect the other eye, but one eye is often worse than the other. Most people will replace both lenses but there is no fixed rule.

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  • WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF CATARACT SURGERY?
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Cataract surgery is the most successfully performed surgery. It is safe and prevents eventual potential blindness. Complications are uncommon, and when something does occur it can usually be corrected.  Danger signs of complications after cataract surgery include increased pain in or redness of the eye, light flashes or floaters, diminished vision, nausea or vomiting. 

These are the risks with cataract surgery:

  • Inflammation

  • Infection

  • Bleeding

  • Swelling

  • Drooping eyelid

  • Dislocation of the IOL

  • Retinal detachment

  • Glaucoma

  • Posterior capsular opacification

  • Loss of vision

 
  • WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?
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After your surgery, you’ll have an eye patch on your treated eye. Your vision will initially be blurry, but it rapidly improves in just a few days. Your eye may be somewhat itchy, but you must not rub or put any pressure on the treated eye. You’ll need to avoid any heavy lifting, bending or anything that raises blood pressure into your face. We’ll provide eye drops to prevent inflammation and infection and to control your eye pressure.

Full healing can take up to two months, but you can return to most daily activities in just a few days. Depending on your lens choice, you may or may not require glasses for some tasks after your surgery. If both your eyes have cataracts, we schedule the second eye for surgery one to two months after the first; they are not done at the same time.

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  • WILL I NEED EYEGLASSES AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?
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This depends on your choice of IOLs. Formerly, most patients would require reading glasses for up close vision, as the IOLs generally provided excellent distance vision. But as IOL technology has advanced, there are now IOL options that can reduce the need for glasses.

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  • WILL CATARACT SURGERY IMPROVE MY NIGHT VISION?
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Declining night vision is often the last straw for patients when deciding when to have cataract surgery. Once the cataract-clouded lens is removed, your night vision should improve dramatically.

 
  • WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T TREAT MY CATARACTS?

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Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Left untreated, cataracts will continue to worsen, making your vision more and more cloudy. Eventually driving will become dangerous, and your overall quality of life will be affected. There isn’t any reason to delay this surgery.

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