Cataract meaning in english

What is Cataract and Understanding Cataract Surgery

A cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Globally, more than 50% of patients are blinded by cataracts. If this disorder is treated in time, the eye can regain vision entirely.

What is Cataract

An eye works like a camera. The cornea and lens of the eye focus the light from outside objects on the retina like the focusing lens of a camera. Retina works like film of the camera where the image is formed.The optic nerve carries the image to the brain where it is analysed. The crystalline lens is transparent in a healthy state, the resulting image is clear. When the lens becomes opaque, it is called cataract. In latin, the word ‘cataract’ is used for waterfall. In this disease the vision gets blurred as though one is looking at things through running water.

cataract meaning in marathi
cataract meaning in marathi

Who Suffers from cataracts?

This disorder mainly occurs with advancing age. Age related cataract is most common. Some genetic diseases or birth defects can cause cataracts in newborn babies. Cataracts also develop rapidly due to other eye diseases such as injury to the eye or intraocular inflammation (Uveitis).

Symptoms

  • Main symptom is progressive blurring vision. In early stages patients have difficulty in low light conditions like at dusk, however vision gradually deteriorates even during day time.
  • Patients may experience difficulty in driving at night and reading in low light.
  • However, near vision may improve in early stages as the spectacle number becomes more myopic (minus). This is known as second sight.
  • Patients may experience frequent change in spectacle number.
  • If not treated on time, it can lead to complete blindness when cataract fully matures.
  • In neglected cases, mature cataracts can lead to serious complications like glaucoma or dislocation into the vitreous cavity. Patient with acute glaucoma presents with severe pain and redness of eye.

When should cataract surgery be performed?

The common belief is that cataract surgery should be performed only after cataract is fully matured. But modern technology makes it easier to remove immature cataracts. Removal of immature cataracts is by and large safe with phacoemulsification.

In today’s era as older age people lead active life involving driving, looking at mobile and computers, watching TV or even working in older age group, our visual needs have significantly enhanced.Hence surgery should be performed when day to day lifestyle gets affected and the patient faces difficulty in daily activities like watching TV, using mobile, driving at dusk. They need not wait for full maturity of cataract.

Surgical removal of the cataract and implantation of intraocular lens (IOL) is THE ONLY definitive treatment of vision loss due to cataract.

  • Comprehensive eye examination, making sure that there are no other eye diseases like retinal diseases, glaucoma or nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
  • If retinal disease is suspected, additional tests like FFA, OCT or OCT Angiography are necessary.
  • Calculation of power of intraocular lens (IOL). Each patient needs customization of the IOL power so as to get spectacle free vision. Optical biometry is the modern method of calculating power of IOL suitable for a particular patient Zeiss’s IOL Master 700 (Fig.3) is latest generation optical biometer technology used for this purpose at Dr.Bapaye Hospital. IOL Master technology can produce many times more accurate numbers than traditional A-Scan sonography.Both IOL Master 700 and A-Scan Sonography are available at Bapaye Hospital. Some patients need corneal topography (Fig. 4) for examination of corneal curvature.
Cataract Surgery in Mumbai
Cataract Surgery in Mumbai
  • Certain blood tests have to be performed.
  • Obtain a fitness certificate from a physician stating that the patient is fit for surgery and does not suffer from problems like raised blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

Types of surgery:

Phacoemulsification (Phaco): For the last few years, cataract surgery has been performed by Phaco technique. In this technique, 2 to 3 mm incision at the edge of the cornea (known as limbus). A ballpoint pen-like probe of the Phaco machine is inserted into the eye. Ultrasound waves are used to break the cataract into smaller pieces and each piece is sucked out (emulsified).  The process of ‘Phaco’ is very easy with the latest technology ‘Ozil’ developed by the American company Alcon. Even very hard cataracts can be easily removed. Alcon’s latest generation Centurion Phacoemulsification system (Fig.5) is available at Bapaye Hospital. Since the wound is very small, stitches are rarely required. Since the incision is very small it doesn’t cause additional astigmatism of cornea. At end of one week spectacle number is prescribed to the patient.

Cataract Surgery in Mumbai

Extracapsular cataract exctraction (ECCE):

In this traditional method, cataracts are removed by making a large incision near the limbus. The wound needs stitches as such a large incision wound may not heal by itself. It takes a period of one-and-a-half months for the wound to heal.

Intraocular Lens (IOL): This artificial lens is the miracle that gives patients clear vision immediately after surgery. Before learning about the different types of IOLs, let us consider some basics.

1. The natural lens of the eye has the ability to change shape before forty years of age. This is known as accommodation and it gives us capacity to focus at objects placed near to us like reading a book or looking at a mobile phone. After forty years, this capacity gradually decreases and one needs reading glasses. Most commonly used, monofocal IOLs do not have this capability to accommodate and hence one needs glasses for near vision.

2. Astigmatism: Most people have a spherical shape of cornea. But in some patients the curvature of the cornea is unequal across different axes. This is called Astigmatism. In cases it makes objects appear slightly tilted. Such patients have to use cylindrical numbered glasses.

3. An IOL is implanted in place of cataract after its removal during surgery. It does not have to be removed in a vast majority of cases. Once implanted the IOL lasts a lifetime.

Types of IOLs:

Monofocal IOL

These IOLs can be foldable or rigid. But nowadays only foldable lenses are used. These are the most commonly used types of IOLs. Monofocal IOL is adjusted to give clear vision for distance while glasses are required for near vision.

Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lens

This new type of lens has been available for the past few months. With these IOLs patients do not need glasses for distance and intermediate distance (like use of computers or laptops). Near vision requires glasses. But this number is usually lesser than monofocal IOLs. In our experience, many patients can manage most of the day to day activities without use of spectacles

Multifocal IOL (Bifocal/Trifocal)

The distinctive design of these lenses gives clear vision for various distances. Bifocal IOLs give clarity of vision for distance and near while intermediate distance (computer/laptop use) might require small glass correction or adjustment of distance and height etc. Trifocal lenses offer smoother transition of vision at various distances and the vast majority of patients achieve complete spectacle freedom.

There are a few things that have to be remembered while opting for multifocal IOLs. Results with these lenses are best achieved when implanted in both eyes. Second eye surgery is performed 1 to 1.5 months after the first eye. There might be a period of adjustment to a new visual system that may last a few days to months till the brain gets adapted (known as Neuroadaptation). Patients may experience halos of light while driving at night. This is much less for trifocal IOLs than bifocal IOLs and the brain gets adapted to this phenomenon too. But due care should be taken in the intervening period.

In our experience, more and more patients want trifocal implants and achieve excellent vision and complete spectacle freedom.

Toric Lens

As discussed earlier, routine IOL can not correct astigmatism (cylindrical number), thus requiring cylindrical glasses in postoperative period. However Toric IOLs can offer spectacle freedom to such patients. These IOLs are placed in a specific axis after implantation inside the eye so as to negate the effect of corneal astigmatism giving spectacle freedom. These IOLs can be monofocal or multifocal, depending on patients desire to use or avoid glasses for near work.

Can a patient develop cataract again after surgery?

No. Cataracts do not recur. But during surgery, the posterior capsule of the original cataract is left in place.It is used as support for placement of IOL intraoperatively. Since this is a part of the original lens, it can become opaque again and patients may experience blurring of vision. This condition is very common and is known as posterior capsular opacification (PCO).. It does not require surgery again. Laser treatment with Nd:YAG laser, popularly known as YAG laser capsulotomy is required. Its an outpatient procedure and can be done in a few minutes.

Catarcat Meaning

Facilities available for cataract patients at Dr.Bapaye Hospital

  • Highly educated and experienced doctors. Our doctors are trained at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
  • Comprehensive ophthalmology (Detailed eye check up including retinal examination)
  • Ophthalmic Sonography (A-Scan & B Scan)
  • Zeiss IOL Master 700 optical biometer
  • Corneal Topography
  • Latest Zeiss microscope system
  • Alcon Centurion Vision System
  • IOL of all kinds
  • Zeiss Yag Laser Treatment
  • Cashless mediclaim system for all major insurance companies

Dr.Bapaye Hospital,

Behind NDCC Bank, Opposite Hotel Samrat, Old Agra Road, Nashik 422001

Phone: (0253) 2506505, 2509421, 2509426

Website: www.bapayeeyehospital.com

Email: drbapayehospital@rediffmail.com

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