 Cataracts
are one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the
world. A cataract is an opacity or
clouding of the natural lens of the eye. Cataract formation
is part of the normal aging process, but can occur as a result
of certain medication, trauma or with certain deseases, such
as diabetes.Generally,
cataracts develop slowly over time. The first symptoms
are cloudiness or fuzziness of one's vision. There is also a
change in colors and there maybe glare or halos around lights
at night, especially when driving.
Little
can be done to prevent cataract formation. As the cataract
becomes worse, less and less light is transmitted through
the lens of the eye. The decision to have surgery is based
on when the vision can no longer be corrected satisfactorily
to perform normal daily activities.
Modern
cataract surgery generally takes 30-40 minutes and
is done in an out-patient setting. The majority of surgery
is done with a small incision and phacoemulsification is
used to remove the cloudy natural lens. Next, in most cases,
a foldable intraocular lens is placed in the eye behind the
iris where the natural lens was located. With small incision
surgery and the use of foldable lenses, the recovery time
is relatively rapid. Generally, the patient's vision stabilizes
after several weeks.
The
intraocular lens implant is placed in the natural lens capsule,
which is actually what supports the lens implant. In some
patients, (about 10-20%) the capsule becomes cloudy. Generally,
this occurs a year or more after surgery, but can occur a
few months after surgery. This clouding of the capsule is
called an Aftercataract. If the aftercataract is significant,
a Yag Laser can be used to make a small opening in the
central portion of the capsule to restore vision.
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