What is a Cataract?
Inside your eye is a natural lens that helps focus light. The natural lens focuses images onto the back of our eye (called the retina) so you can see clearly. This is just like a camera lens focuses images onto film for a clear picture . As people age, the natural lens can become less clear, even cloudy. This cloudiness is called a cataract. Just as a dirty camera lens can spoil a picture, a cataract can prevent light from focusing clearly inside the eye.
Typical signs of cataracts are blurred vision and sensitivity to light. For example, you may have trouble reading, or driving at night or at dusk. Colors may seem less vivid. It may be difficult to thread a needle, shave, or put on make-up. A cataract can be removed only by surgery. You should consider surgery when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with your daily activities.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. This results in blurred distance and/or near vision. A normal eye has a round cornea, shaped like a baseball. Light rays entering the eye focus at a single point on the retina, forming a clear image. An eye with astigmatism has an oblong-shaped cornea, shaped like an American football. As a result, the light rays do not focus on a single point on the retina. This causes blurred or distorted vision. Ask your eye doctor if you have corneal astigmatism.
What is an Intraocular Lens (IOL)?
The most common treatment for cataract today is to remove the clouded natural lens. It is then replaced with an artificial lens. This artificial lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL).
What to Expect before Cataract Surgery
You will be evaluated before surgery. This includes checking for any eye diseases. It also includes measuring your eye to choose the correct lens power. If you wear contact lenses, your eye doctor may ask you to stop wearing them before being tested. Tell your eye doctor if you have any health conditions that may affect your surgery or vision.
Examples include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Give your eye doctor a current list of your medications. Plan to have someone else drive you home after surgery
What to Expect during Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. You will be given anesthesia in the form of eye drops to numb your eye. Typically, you will be fully awake during the surgery. You will be comfortable and should feel little or no discomfort. Your eye doctor will use a microscope to have a magnified view of your eye. Your natural lens sits in a bag-like structure called the lens capsule. The lens capsule is located just behind the colored part of your eye (iris). A small incision is made in the outer surface of the eye. The eye doctor inserts a tiny probe through this opening to break up the cataract. Your eye doctor then uses a device like a small vacuum to remove the cataract pieces from your eye. Now there will be room for the IOL to be placed in your eye, to replace your natural lens that your eye doctor has just removed. Your doctor will insert the IOL through the same tiny incision. When the surgery is complete, your eye doctor may place a protective patch or shield over your eye.
Right after surgery, you should stay in the recovery area for a short time. Many patients may begin to see better within 1 to 2 days. Some are stable at 10 to 14 days. Some may take 4 to 6 weeks to recover from surgery. Improvements in vision are different for each person. Call your eye doctor right away if you experience any itching, pain, flashing lights, “floaters,” redness, severe headache, nausea/vomiting, light sensitivity, or watery eyes after surgery.
Different types of lens
Monofocal IOLs
Monofocal IOLs restore distance vision. This means that you should see well when you go to a ball game or read distant signs. You will probably need glasses for near vision tasks, such as reading a book, writing, or doing crafts. You may also need glasses for intermediate vision activities such as working on a computer, putting on make-up, or shaving.
Enchanced Monofocal
Primarily restore distance vision. This means that you should see well when you go to a ball game or read distant signs. You will probably need glasses for near vision tasks, such as reading a book, writing, or doing crafts. You may also need glasses for intermediate vision activities such as working on a computer, putting on make-up, or shaving
Multifocal IOLs
All IOLs are designed for distance vision. Multifocal IOLs are also designed to improve near vision compared to a monofocal lens. This means that you should see well whether you go to a cricket match or read a book. Overall, you may wear glasses less often for daily tasks.
Toric IOLs
Toric IOLs restore clear distance vision for patients with astigmatism. As mentioned above, astigmatism is blurred or distorted vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. If you have astigmatism, a toric IOL may be the right choice for you.
For better understanding watch the following video
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