| Cataract
Surgery
A cataract is a clouding of
the normally clear lens of the eye. When functioning
correctly, the lens focuses light rays on the retina in the
back of the eye. When the lens becomes clouded with a
cataract, the lens cannot focus correctly and the image we
see becomes blurry. In early stages, a cataract does not
require treatment. There is no medical treatment for
cataracts, other than surgery. When your vision deteriorates
to a point that interferes with your daily living
activities, cataract surgery should be considered.
The No-stitch
Technique
Ophthalmologists at The Eye Clinic use the safest, most
advanced surgical techniques for the removal of cataracts.
The procedure used is often called the "no stitch"
cataract surgery, because it involves only one small
incision. Under an operating microscope, a small incision is
made into the eye. Microsurgical instruments are used to
fragment and suction the cloudy lens from the eye. The back
membrane of the lens, which is called the posterior capsule,
is left in place. The surgeon then places a plastic
intraocular lens implant inside the eye to replace the
natural lens that was removed. Once the lens is in place,
the remarkable healing power of the eye is allowed to seal
the incision naturally, without any stitches. The surgery is
performed on an outpatient basis and takes about 30 minutes
to perform. A metal shield is placed over the eye after
surgery and stays on until the following morning. Most
patients go home within one hour after the surgery, and are
able to resume most of their normal activities with 24
hours.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery is never part of an original cataract removal
operation. The posterior capsule may become cloudy several
months or years after the cataract surgery. If this causes
blurred vision, a clear opening can be made painlessly in
the center of the membrane with a YAG laser to restore
normal sight. This laser procedure is performed in The Eye
Clinic office. |
