• Home
  • Why You Choose Us...?
  • Eye Problems...
  • Our Staff
  • Patient Eye Health Education
  • Contact us

Eye Problems

Glaucoma

Cataract surgery

Keratoconus

Dry eye

Squint

Retinal Detachment

Low Vision

Corneal Transplants

..............................

Laser Department

Lasik

Posterior Capsulotomy

Diabetic Eye Problems

..............................

 

Investigations

Visual Field

Flourescein Angiography

Corneal Topography

OCT

Ultrasonography

Specular Microscopy

..............................

Patient Eye health education

When Should I Go To Ophthalmologist..!

Eye Injuries

Eye Care & Facts myths

Floaters and flashes

How To Care About My Contact Lenses..!

..............................

... Translate This Page To Arabic

cataract surgery

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. The lens focuses light rays on the retina the layer of light-sensing cells lining the back of the eye to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision is blurred.

What causes cataract?

Cataract development is a normal process of aging, but cataracts also develop from eye injuries, certain diseases, or medications. Your

genes may also play a role in cataract development.

How can a cataract be treated?

$ A cataract may not need to be treated if your vision is only slightly blurry. Simply changing your eyeglass prescription may help to improve your vision for a while.

$ There are no medications, eye drops, exercises, or glasses that will cause cataract to disappear or to prevent them from forming.

$ Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered.

$ In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye through a surgical incision. In most cases, the natural lens is replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

What can I except if I decide to have cataract surgery?

BEFORE SURGERY

To determine if your cataract should be removed, your ophthalmologist will perform a thorough eye examination. Before surgery, your eye will be measured to determine the proper power of the intraocular lens that will be placed in your eye. Ask your ophthalmologist if you should continue taking your usual medications before surgery. You should make arrangements to have someone drive you home after surgery.

THE DAY OF SURGERY

$ Surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, either in a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center. You may be asked to skip breakfast, depending on the time of your surgery.

$ When you arrive for surgery, you will be given eye drops and perhaps a mild sedative to help make you comfortable. A local anesthetic will numb your eye. The skin around your eye will be thoroughly cleansed, and sterile coverings will be placed around your head. You may see light and movement, but you will not be able to see the surgery while it is happening.

$ Under an operating microscope, a small incision is made in the eye. In most cataract surgeries, tiny surgical instruments are used to break apart and remove the cloudy lens from the eye. The back membrane of the lens (called the posterior capsule) is left in place.

$ A plastic, acrylic, or silicone intraocular lens is implanted in the eye to replace the natural lens that was removed.

$ After surgery is completed, your doctor may place a shield over your eye. After a short stay in the outpatient recovery area, you will be ready to go home.

Next Page

Copyright © 2007 National Eye Hospital. All right reserved.