Cataract

Transform how you see the world, with advanced micro-incision cataract surgery.

Cataract is the clouding of the lens of your eye with ageing, and it impairs vision. It is now easier than ever to regain clear vision after a cataract.

In cataract there is a buildup of protein in the lens of the eye, which makes it cloudy. This prevents light passing clearly through the lens and causes loss of vision.

Advancing age is the primary reason for cataract: with age, the protein of the lens turns opaque. Other causes are metabolic disorders such as diabetes, excessive exposure to sunlight, and lifestyle factors like heavy alcohol consumption and smoking. Injury to the eye can also cloud the lens, and inflammation in the eye (uveitis) can lead to cataract forming.

Treatment

Once a cataract forms, surgery is the only way to treat it. In cataract surgery the surgeon removes the clouded lens and puts an intraocular lens (IOL) in your eye. Your vision will be as good as it was before the cataract, though you may still need glasses. Over the years cataract surgery has moved from restorative to refractive, so the need for glasses is reduced.

Good cataract treatment needs both experienced surgeons and current technology. We have both, including modern phacoemulsification machines.

Surgical techniques

Micro-incision cataract surgery

Over the years the size of the corneal incision made during cataract surgery has reduced considerably, which improves the visual outcome and speeds up recovery. All cataract surgeries here are day-care procedures.

• Requires a very small clear corneal incision of about 2 mm.
• The cataract is emulsified into small pieces by phacoemulsification and a foldable IOL is implanted.
• Walk-in, walk-out procedure.
• Stitchless, bloodless, painless surgery.
• Quick healing and post-operative recovery.

Phacoemulsification

• Requires a small clear corneal incision of 2.8 mm.
• Stitchless surgery.
• The cataract is emulsified and removed using an ultrasonic phacoemulsification probe.
• A foldable IOL is implanted.

Small-incision sutureless cataract surgery

This requires a larger scleral incision, but it is still a stitchless surgery. It is the procedure of choice in advanced cases where phacoemulsification is not possible, or where there is a risk of corneal damage. The cataract is removed whole and an IOL is implanted.

Ayaan Eye Hospital has always adopted current technology in eye care, which improves the visual outcome and comfort for the patient. True to our belief that every eye deserves the best, we use the latest generation of phaco machines, including the AMO Sovereign Whitestar and AMO Sovereign Compact.

Types of intraocular lens

Monofocal IOLs

Implantable lenses made of acrylic or silicone, placed permanently in the eye after the natural lens is removed. They have a single zone of clear focus, usually set for distance vision, so reading glasses are still needed for near tasks.

Toric IOLs

These reduce the effect of pre-existing corneal astigmatism by reducing the residual refractive cylinder, and improve the quality of uncorrected distance vision.

Multifocal IOLs

These incorporate both distance and near powered segments in one lens, reducing dependence on glasses across a wider range of distances.