Home

Athena Eye Care

Cataract

What is cataract?
Why does cataract occur ?
How is it treated?
How much vision can be regained after surgery?
What is aftercataract?
Is there a drug to prevent cataract?

What is cataract?

Inside the eye there is a lens called the crystalline lens which focuses clear image on to the retina. When this lens get clouded or opaque, then a cataract is said to have set in.

Why does a cataract occur?

Most of the cases of cataract occur as an aging process and the exact cause is not known. In some families cataract tend to occur at an earlier age. Cataract can also set in following an injury to the eye or as a part of systemic disease or conditions such as diabetes.

How is cataract treated?

In early cases of cataract the vision can be improved by changing the power of the glasses. However, when this no longer helps then surgery is the only option. With modern techniques of surgery cataract can be operated at any stage where the vision handicap affects the patients normal lifestyle. A surgery may be delayed as long as the cataract is not fully mature. After maturity there is always a risk of cataract induced glaucoma setting in.

a cataractous lens is being removed

Vision after surgery

The visual loss due to cataract can be fully reversible as long as there is no other coincidental structural damage in the eye. By Microsurgical techniques the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens. The power of this artificial lens (IOL) is determined before surgery . After surgery whatever minor refractive adjustment which the patient requires is made on the glasses. Surgeons generally choose to correct the eye for distance and the patient needs to wear reading glasses only after surgery. In some cases the lens power may be adjusted for reading vision and the patient may need distance glasses. Cataract surgery today is a very safe procedure even though there is minor statistical probability of sight threatening complication in all cases.

What is aftercataract?

Following successful cataract surgery some patients might face a lowering of vision after months or years which is due to thickening of a fine intraocular membrane called the posterior capsule. This condition is called aftercataract and is very easily treated by YAG Laser. YAG laser uses focussed light beams to rupture the thick posterior capsule and clear the visual axis.

Can cataract be prevented?

Currently there is no proved drug to prevent the onset or progress of cataract. However, strict control of any predisposing systemic condition such as diabetes has some influence in its prevention.