Cataract Surgery

Symptoms of cataracts

If you have a cataract, you may have no symptoms. Alternatively you may have one or more of the symptoms listed below

• Your vision may get worse which may make you feel like your vision is cloudy, fuzzy or filmy.
• Spots in your vision.
• Glare and halos from lights or the sun. This may be severe and you may also have difficulty driving at night.
• Double vision in one eye.
• Your colour vision may become washed out or faded.

Causes of cataracts

Cataracts are caused by changes in the lens protein of the eye, which makes them cloudy. There are certain factors that can increase your risk of getting cataracts. These include:

• diabetes
• an injury to the eye
• exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight
• medication use, such as long-term use of steroids
• smoking
• heavy drinking
• a family history of cataracts
• eating too much or too little
• not eating a healthy, balanced diet
• dehydration

Treatment of cataracts

If you have cataracts, you may find that your vision is still good enough for you to get along fine with glasses or contact lenses and that surgery isn't required. The time to consider treatment is if your vision has become noticeably worse, can't be corrected with a change in your prescription lenses and this is interfering with your everyday activities such as work and hobbies. Left untreated, your lens may eventually become very cloudy so that it's impossible to see any detail at all, although you will always be able to see some light. Wearing glasses may improve your vision if your cataract is in the early stages of development, but your cataract will probably get worse over time so this will only provide a temporary solution. There is no known way to prevent cataracts that develop as a result of getting older. So far, no medication or diet has been found to slow down the growth of cataracts, and there is no medication that can clear a clouded lens. Surgical removal of your cataract is the only way to restore or maintain your vision. This involves replacing your cloudy lens with an artificial one. The most advanced technique is called phacoemulsification. At Onome Eye Clinic cataracts are removed using this technique. In our experience the environment, professional knowledge and technical background are all intricate factors for a successful cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is considered to be a routine procedure at our clinic, with surgeons trained in the latest treatment modalities on the newest of equipment. We follow up with latest techniques to provide you the very best in patient care and patient satisfaction. There has not been any unsatisfied patient at our clinic.

Cataract surgery at Onome Eye Clinic

The Onome Eye clinic in conjunction with the University of Debrecen eye clinic operates as a team with the latest surgical instruments in ophthalmology.

The surgery is done to replace the faulty, “cloudy” crystalline eye lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. Your surgeon will explain how to prepare for your operation. He or she will also discuss your options for the type of artificial lens replacement you will have fitted. Phacoemulsification is usually done as a day case under local anaesthesia, which can be given as drops into your eye. This completely blocks the feeling from the area and you will stay awake during the operation. A sedative is sometimes given with a local anaesthetic to help you relax. Your surgeon will place drops in your eye to widen (dilate) your pupil, making it easier to see the lens inside your eye. You won't be able to see out of your eye as it's being treated, but you may be aware of light and movement. At the hospital your nurse will explain how you will be cared for during your stay. Your nurse may check your heart rate and blood pressure, and test your urine. Your surgeon will usually ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your permission for it to go ahead.

The operation usually lasts around 15 to 20 minutes. During the operation, you will lie in a special chair. The surgeon will work with very fine instruments while looking at your eye through a microscope. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your surgeon will make a tiny cut on the surface of your eye. Your surgeon will use ultrasound energy to break up the cloudy lens (cataract), which is then removed through a small tube. The lens sits inside a sac of thin tissue called a capsule. This is kept in place to support an artificial replacement lens (intraocular lens), which will be inserted through the same cut after the cataract is removed. It's folded to help insert it through the cut. The intraocular lens will unfold once it's in your eye. The lens is made from plastic or silicone and remains permanently in your eye. The most common type of lens is a monofocal lens (a lens that can only focus at one distance) but other lenses are available that can focus at more than one distance. Your surgeon will discuss which is the best option for you.

After cataract surgery

After surgery you will be given anti-inflammatory eye drops and antibiotics to ensure that your eye doesn't get infected. You will be able to go home or to your hotel room when you feel ready. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours. After the operation, your eye is likely to be covered with a protective pad. You will need to wear this for a few hours. Your nurse will give you some advice about caring for your eye before you go home. You may be given a date for a follow-up appointment. It may be helpful to wear sunglasses or a hat when you leave the hospital as your eye may be sensitive to light.

If you need them, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don't take aspirin as this can cause bleeding. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice. Take it easy for the first two or three days after the operation. If you have questions about what you can and can't do, ask your surgeon or nurse for guidance. You can resume normal activities such as moving around and bending down, but be careful because it's hard to judge distances with one eye covered.

There are some important things to remember while recovering from cataract surgery.

• Don't touch or rub your eye.
• Keep soap and shampoo out of your eyes (it's sensible not to wash your hair for the first few days).
• In the first few weeks after the operation, don't lift anything heavy or exercise strenuously as this can increase the pressure in your eye and could put strain on your healing scar.
• If you suffer more than mild pain, or have loss of vision or increasing redness of your eye, you should contact your hospital for advice.

Sensation usually returns to the eye within a few hours. Vision normally improves within a few days. Healing normally takes two to six weeks, although complete healing may take several months. Once your eye has healed, you will be able to have your eyes tested again and have new glasses prescribed.

Cataract treatment surgery is among the safest and most successful procedure in the medical field. The complications of cataract surgery are minimal due to the advanced surgical techniques in use today. However, it must be understood that complications may occur in all types of surgery. In cataract removal surgery, hemorrhage, infection, and swelling are all possible, but very uncommon. The chance of any significant complication is less than 1%. These complications are explained by your operating surgeon, and patients are always free to ask any questions they may have.