Cataract is today one of the leading causes of visual impairment. It is a condition that may be congenital (present at birth) or may be acquired in advanced age. The main characteristic of this condition is clouding of the eye lens. When encountered among newborns it is usually the result of chemical or physical trauma to the fetus. If they plan to undergo cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to understand a number of things in advance.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
The form of management that is adopted is largely dependent on how advanced the condition is. If the lens has been damaged to a large extent, it has to be removed in its entirety. It is then replaced with an artificial alternative made of a material such as silicone, acrylic or plastic. On the other hand, if the damage is not too much, the lens can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and infections.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
The form of management that is adopted is largely dependent on how advanced the condition is. If the lens has been damaged to a large extent, it has to be removed in its entirety. It is then replaced with an artificial alternative made of a material such as silicone, acrylic or plastic. On the other hand, if the damage is not too much, the lens can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and infections.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
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