Tips for good health - Advancements in Cataract Surgery

Cataract is one of the most commonly occuring vision defect in older population. The treatment is mainly surgical. The recent advancements in surgical procedures has made it more acceptable. The advanced procedures are painless,bloodless.

Cataract, meaning opacification of the human lens is best treated using ultrasound. By this method the lens is emulified and sucked out using vacuum. When the surgery is performed through the cornea there is no loss of blood. This is extremely useful for hypertensive and cardiac patients taking medications that affect clotting of blood. Since the surgery is peformed through a micro incision and sutures are generally not required. Usually the procedure is performed under local anesthesia making it an absolutely Pain less and safe procedure. This does not require hospitalisation.

Recently the new advancement in cataract surgery has occured known as 'Micro Pulse Phaco' or 'Cold Phaco'. We saw earlier that the procedure of Phacoemulsification is like a combination of hand held mixer vaccum machine. When we use a mixer for grinding a hard substance and when it is used for a long time it gets heated up. The same thing happens in Cataract surgery too. This heat can cause harm to the cornea of the eye, that may affect the visual outcome after surgery. The newly used Phaco machines do not produce heat during surgery. This technology is called 'Cold Phaco'. Following this extraction an intraocular lens is implanted into the eye in place of a defective lens.

In Short

Surgery is the only cure for Cataract.
It is Painless and suture less.
It can occur at any age more than 50 years.
Good Quality intraocular lens has to be chosen