Cataract is a medical condition that affects the eye's natural lens. The lens is a clear, flexible structure located behind the iris and the pupil that helps to focus light onto the retina, which then sends visual signals to the brain.
In a healthy eye, the lens is transparent, but with cataract, it becomes cloudy, which can cause blurry or dim vision. Cataracts usually develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. They can be caused by a variety of factors such as age, genetics, certain medical conditions, and exposure to certain environmental factors like ultraviolet radiation.
Treatment for cataracts may involve changes in eyeglass prescription, brighter lighting, or surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one. Cataract surgery is generally safe and effective, and can improve vision and quality of life for many people.
Here are the steps involved in cataract surgery:
Anesthetic: The first step is to administer local anesthesia to numb the eye and surrounding area. This may involve eye drops, injections around the eye, or a combination of both.
Incision: The surgeon will make a small incision in the eye to access the lens. There are different types of incisions, but most are very small and require only a few stitches or none at all.
Capsulotomy: The surgeon will create a circular opening in the capsule that surrounds the lens. This allows access to the cloudy lens.
Phacoemulsification: Using a small ultrasonic probe, the surgeon will break up the cloudy lens and suction out the pieces.
Insertion of artificial lens: The surgeon will then insert the artificial lens implant into the remaining capsule. This is usually a foldable lens that can be inserted through the same incision used for phacoemulsification.
Closure: The incision is closed using either a self-sealing method or a few sutures.
Recovery: After the surgery, the patient will be monitored for a short time to make sure there are no complications. Most patients can go home the same day and will need to take eye drops and avoid certain activities for a few weeks while the eye heals.
