HYDERABAD: In cataract surgery the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with another an artificial lens (IOL). Most cataracts are due to aging, at times an injury, drugs like steroids and even radiation can also result into cataract.
Cataract surgery has been transformed from a procedure of COUHING in ancient days (5thcentuary BC) to the most modern method known as FEMTOSECOND LASER CATARACT SURGERY (FLCS).
In the past several decades the cataract surgery has undergone rapid development in terms of techniques, the calculation of power of the IOLs, the type of IOLs to achieve amazing visual outcomes.
Techniques:
Earlier method was to cut half circumference of the cornea to bring out theentire lens, later prescribing the thick glasses.This technique was modified by leaving the support intact so that an IOL can be placed and glasses are required though not as thick as in the previous method.Both these methods require fully ripe lens for easy removal, sutures to close the wound and eye must be made numb through an injection.
A remarkable change happened after introducing PHACOEMULSIFICATION where ultrasonic energy is used to break the lens into small fragments through a small key hole (nowadays as small as1.4 mm) and a foldable IOL is implanted without enlarging the wound.This technique has become the gold standard for modern cataract surgery as it has minimal complications. Unlike in previous methods there is no need for injections and sutures andthis can be done on immature cataracts as well. One can attend the routine without any restrictions such as reading, driving, using computers etc.
The most innovative method in today’s era is the FEMTOSECOND LASER which has revolutionised the cataract surgery. This is an image guided technology whereall the key steps of phacoemulsification are done by this laser making the entire procedure safer, predictable and precise.This laser method is very useful in difficult and challenging cataracts to make it easy for both surgeon and patient.
Iol –Intraocular Lens:
The recent advance in IOL technology has changed the outlook of cataract surgery. An IOL mimicking the original lens is certainly a challenge but many manufacturers are able to produce such quality IOLs. There is a myth that glasses are not necessary after this but a monofocal IOL implant will require external glasses at least for reading but notin multifocal or accommodative IOL.
Sometimes one may develop blurry vision after a wonderful cataract surgery. This is known as posterior capsule opacification which can easily be handled by doing a small laser and vision will be restored within hours.
Biomerty:
Last but not least is the IOL calculation. This has to be planned prior to the surgery and accurate measurement is very essential as each eye is different in same individual.
To conclude the advancements have helped the patients immensely. From the days of going through a week’s trauma for getting the cataract done, it is now a simple day care procedure of 10mts and they can attend to their routine the next day.