When the natural lens inside the eye (also known as the crystalline lens) becomes cloudy, cataract occurs. This is a long-term problem brought about by continuous exposure to UV light or sun rays. It normally occurs later in life as folks are exposed to more UV light as they age. You can also experience cataracts at birth (congenital cataract) and they can also materialize from injuries to the eye. Prolonged use of selected medications such as steroids can also lead to cataracts.
Cataracts are taken into account by ophthalmologists when assessing the suitability of laser eye treatment.
Light enters the eyes through the cornea of the front of the eye, through the lens, and onto the back or the retina. The pathways where the light passes through are clear and if focused properly, a clear-cut image should form on the back of the eye.
If the lens has opacities (cataract), the light which passes through the lens gets scattered and the impression formed on the retina is muzzy. glasses or contact lenses cannot fix this dilemma because the cataract is located inside the eye.
Lasik, PRK, and other standard laser eye treatment procedures also cannot restore this predicament because the process only involves reshaping the front surface of the eye or the cornea. The image formed on the retina would still be hazy because the cataract is still in the way.
The opaque lens inside the eye needs to be removed for clear vision. This is primarily a two-part procedure.
Removing the Lens
The standard method of lens extraction is by phacoemulsification. Inserted into the eye via a minor cut on the cornea is a handheld instrument with an ultrasonic vibrating head. The end vibrates at elevated frequency to break up the crystalline lens within the eye. As little pieces are suctioned out, there will be a point left wherein an artificial lens will be implanted.
Inserting the Intraocular Lens
The artificial lens replacing the natural crystalline lens is known as an intraocular lens or IOL. In a rolled-up fashion, the IOL is inserted into the eye through a small corneal incision. The intraocular lens is unrolled once inside the eye and positioned at the back of the iris where the natural crystalline lens once was. Vision is corrected with the Rx of the IOL, so spectacles would no longer be necessary after cataract operation.
Because the incisions are extremely minuscule and done under local anesthetic, stitches are usually not required afterwards. The eye heals this effortlessly and all-night stays at the hospital or clinic is not needed.
As the artificial lens placed within the eye can be of any Rx, cataract procedure (also known as lens replacement) is becoming a popular way of correcting sight surgically, especially for older patients.
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