Cataract

Development of an opacification or cloudiness in a normally transparent lens in the eye is known as cataract. Cataracts most commonly occur due to aging but there are various other factors that can lead to cataract like trauma, metabolic diseases, congenital factors, syndromes, etc.

The treatment of cataract is surgical viz. removal of cataractous lens and replaced by an intra-ocular lens. The mainstay of this surgery is Phacoemulsification. The cataractous lens is approached via a micro-incision and is broken down into small pieces by ultrasonic energy of the vibrating phaco tip which are then removed by vaccum. This is known as Phaco (Phacoemulsification). The capsule of the cataractous lens is left behind on which the Intra-ocular lens is placed.

Femto lasermay also be used to break the lens into small pieces, which ae later on removed by Phaco. This is known as FLACS ( Femto Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery).

Various type of Intra-Ocular lenses are used depending upon various patient related factors. A few kind of lenses are as follows:

• Hydrophillic IOLs
• Hydrophobic IOLs
• Aspheric IOLs
• Toric IOL- Used when the patient has high cylinder power
• Multifocal IOLs- Help in seeing both distance and near objects clearly Your surgeon can help you to decide about the kind of IOL most suited for you.

PCO (Posterior capsular opacifiaction) is the opacifiaction on the remaining lens capsule after the cataract surgery. This can be treated by Yag Laser Capsulotomy.