Cataract is today one of the leading causes of visual impairment. It is a condition that may be congenital (present at birth) or may be acquired in advanced age. The main characteristic of this condition is clouding of the eye lens. When encountered among newborns it is usually the result of chemical or physical trauma to the fetus. If they plan to undergo cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to understand a number of things in advance.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
The next step is to make a small surgical cut on the cornea (the foremost layer of the eyeball) using a laser beam. It is through this incision that the affected eye lens is removed from the eye. A lens that has been affected by cataract will be typically hardened and has to be broken down to smaller pieces for ease of removal. This is done with the aid of an ultrasound probe.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
There are very few risks associated with this kind of operation. In general 98% of the surgeries are uneventful. Possible short term complications include excessive bleeding, swelling of the eye and infections. Complications are likely to affect eyes that had pre-existing problems. It is for this reason that through screening should be done before one undergoes surgery. Antibiotics and steroid eye drops should also be given routinely to all persons undergoing the operations.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
The next step is to make a small surgical cut on the cornea (the foremost layer of the eyeball) using a laser beam. It is through this incision that the affected eye lens is removed from the eye. A lens that has been affected by cataract will be typically hardened and has to be broken down to smaller pieces for ease of removal. This is done with the aid of an ultrasound probe.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
There are very few risks associated with this kind of operation. In general 98% of the surgeries are uneventful. Possible short term complications include excessive bleeding, swelling of the eye and infections. Complications are likely to affect eyes that had pre-existing problems. It is for this reason that through screening should be done before one undergoes surgery. Antibiotics and steroid eye drops should also be given routinely to all persons undergoing the operations.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
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