CATARACT

The term cataract comes from the Middle Ages, from the Greek word Katarraktes, meaning waterfall.
Cataract is a darkening of the crystalline, that is, the lens inside the eye, which is normally transparent. Cataracts develop over the years and do not get worse with reading or forcing one's sight.

What are the signs of a cataract?

Blurred vision, photophobia or increased sensitivity to light (especially at night), if you need to change glasses often, if colours lose their intensity and saturation.

Why has this happened to me?

Except a few cases of congenital or metabolic diseases etc., the most common cause is senil cataract, that is to say, it normally appears from about 55 years of age.

What is the treatment for a cataract?

Currently, treatment is with laser-ultrasound. Cataracts should be treated as soon as possible, before they interfere strongly with one's work or daily life.

What does the operation consist of?

The operation is called PHACOEMULSIFICATION and is currently performed with a short incision of 1.5-2.0 mm. It does not need stitches. An artificial lens is implanted in place of the opaque lens. This artificial phace does not need stitching inside the eye. It is suspended inside the capsular sac, which is stabilised automatically by means of a small elastic arm.
The operation takes about 10 minutes.


(click on the photo to see the transformation)

Do I need to stay in hospital?

No. The operation is performed in out-patients. You only need to stay at our clinic for about two or three hours. We use a local anaesthetic, of eye drops, which is administered a few minutes before the operation. A small quantity of anaesthetic is usually injected into the eyelid so that the patient feels more comfortable during the operation.

Can this operation be done in severe cases of short-sightedness or long-sightedness?

Yes. There is also the added advantage that, due to the special calculation of the graduation of the lens, you will not need to use such powerful glasses. The implanted lens can be graduated so that you will not need to wear glasses at all, or in the case of having to wear them, you will only need glasses with minimum graduation and only for certain tasks close-up. In many cases you will not need to wear glasses for long distances.