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Cataract

Overview

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.

At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.

 

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

  • Clouded, blurred or dim vision
  • Increasing difficulty with vision at night
  • Sensitivity to light and glare
  • Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
  • Seeing "halos" around lights
  • Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
  • Fading or yellowing of colors
  • Double vision in a single eye

At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms.

 

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:

  • Increasing age
  • Diabetes
  • Excessive exposure to sunlight
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Previous eye injury or inflammation
  • Previous eye surgery
  • Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

 

Prevention

No studies have proved how to prevent cataracts or slow the progression of cataracts.

 

Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery involves replacing the cloudy lens inside your eye with an artificial one.

It's the most common eye operation performed worldwide, with a high success rate in improving your eyesight.

 

Do you need surgery?

Cataracts usually get slowly worse over time. Surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the only way to improve your eyesight.

Surgery is usually offered if your cataracts are affecting your eyesight and quality of life.

The decision to have surgery should not be based solely on your eye test (visual acuity) results.

You may have other personal reasons for deciding to have surgery, such as your daily activities, hobbies and interests.

There are no medicines or eye drops that have been proven to improve cataracts or stop them getting worse.

 

Before the operation

Different measurements will be taken of your eyes and your eyesight.

The assessment is an opportunity to discuss anything to do with your operation, including:

  • your lens preference, such as near sight or long sight
  • the risks and benefits of surgery
  • if you'll need glasses after surgery
  • how long you'll take to fully recover

 

Benefits of surgery

After cataract surgery you should be able to:

  • see things in focus
  • look into bright lights and not see as much glare
  • tell the difference between colors

If you have another condition affecting your eyes, such as diabetes or glaucoma, you may still have limited vision, even after successful surgery.

 

Types of Intraocular Lenses (IOLS)

A range of IOLs, including monofocal IOLs, multifocal IOLs, toric IOLs, and trifocal IOLs are available. These are all designed to give quality vision, enhance your lifestyle and reduce dependence on glasses following the cataract surgery.

 

Cataract surgery does not result in any modifications in your lifestyle or working patterns. It is a daycare procedure and patients can resume their normal activities fairly soon after surgery.

There are no major lifestyle restrictions and hospitalization required for cataract surgery.

 

 

 

LenSx:

The LensX Precision Laser System is one of our newer additions, providing a new level of accuracy and consistency in our no-stitch, no-patch cataract procedure.

For more than a decade, the femtosecond laser has been used effectively in refractive procedures. Now, our CATARACT patients can enjoy the advantages of this type of laser as well. The LensX Precision Laser System is a major advance in the world of cataract surgery, offering the precision of a laser and the accuracy of a computer-guided system.

Your laser cataract procedure starts with several measurements of your eye, both externally and internally, to determine the exact surgical plan specified for your vision. Once this is complete, your surgeon will use these measurements in creating the laser cataract procedure plan that’s tailored to your unique eyes.

During your customized laser cataract procedure, your surgeon uses the LensX laser to perform several steps of the procedure that are traditionally performed by hand. The results are more predictable, more accurate, and tailored to your specific vision needs, with the goal of restoring clear vision and the improved quality of life that comes with it.

 

Benefits of LensX Cataract Surgery

  • Procedure is quicker and more comfortable
  • Surgery is more precise for your unique eye and results are more accurate
  • The laser is programmable and computer-guided

 

 

Dos and don'ts after cataract surgery

For the first few weeks after surgery:

 

Do:

  • use your eye drops as instructed
  • take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days
  • take painkillers if you need to
  • bathe or shower yourself as usual
  • read, watch TV and use a computer
  • avoid swimming for 4 to 6 weeks

 

Don't:

  • rub your eye
  • allow soap or shampoo to get into your eye
  • drive until you get the all-clear from your doctor
  • do any strenuous exercise or housework
  • wear eye make-up for at least 4 weeks
  • fly without seeking advice from your doctor

You could arrange for someone to help take care of you until your vision returns, particularly if the vision in your other eye is poor.

If you work, how soon you can return will largely depend on your type of job and if you need new glasses.

 

Using your eye drops

Before you leave hospital, you'll be given some eye drops to help your eye heal and prevent infection.

It's important to use your eye drops as instructed by your doctor. Unless told otherwise, you should:

  • only use them on the operated eye
  • wash your hands before using your drops
  • don't stop your eye drops without advice from your doctor
  • don't let anyone else use your eye drops

 

You'll be advised further about the use of eye drops at your follow up appointment, usually 1 to 4 weeks after your operation.

At this appointment, you may be given advice on when to stop using your eye drops and when to apply for new glasses.

 

How to apply eye drops

  1. wash your hands
  2. tilt your head back
  3. look up at the ceiling
  4. gently pull down the lower lid
  5. squeeze the bottle until a drop goes into your eye
  6. close your eye and wipe away any excess liquid
  7. don’t let the bottle touch the eye

 

How to clean your eye

  • boil some water and allow it to cool
  • wash your hands
  • dip cotton wool or clean gauze in the cool boiled water
  • gently wipe from the inside (near your nose) to the outside corner of your eye
  • don't wipe inside your eye
  • don't wash your eye out with water
  • don't press on your eye

During the first 2 weeks, you may need to clean your eye twice a day because the drops and the healing process can cause slight stickiness.

Call for Appointment

Call for Appointment
  • Probartak Sangha Building (4th and 5th Floor), Probartak Circle, Panchlaish, Chittagong
  • Phone: 01839392525, 01768225275,
  • Emails: info.chittagong@bdeyehospital.com

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