What is Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding (protein deposition) of the natural lens in the eye. It causes blurring/diminution of vision, difficulty in driving at night. The main cause of cataract is old age. Other causes could be trauma, diabetes and staying on long term medications like steroids.
What are the symptoms of Cataract?
- Decreased/Blurry vision
- Glare at night
- Eye Strain
- Coloured halos
What is the treatment for Cataract?
Surgery is the ONLY treatment for cataract. This includes removal of the cataractous lens and implanting a synthetic clear intraocular lens. The surgical procedure to remove a cataract is called Phacoemulsification or Phaco Surgery.
What are the advantages of Phaco Surgery?
- Small incision size (1.8 mm to 2.2 mm)
- Don’t have to stay at the hospital
- Better Vision
- Quicker return to normal daily activities
What are the types of lenses that are implanted during a Phaco surgery?
A variety of lenses are available. Before the surgery, your doctor will discuss with you what lens works best for you according to your lifestyle.
Types of lenses:
- Monofocal – Monofocal lens will free you of glasses for mid-range, but for a long-distance reading you will be required to use glasses.
- Multifunctional/Trifocal – This lens will free you of glasses for both distance and near vision.
- Toric Lenses – If the patient has cylindrical eyesight, a Tropical lens can be used to correct the situation.
What is the lifespan of an IOL implanted in the eye?
IOLs last for a lifetime.
How much time does the surgery usually take?
The surgical time is 15-20 minutes. The total time a patient spends in the hospital ranges from 3-4 hours including pre and post-operative care. The patient does not have to stay at the hospital.
What are the precautions one should take after the surgery?
- Routine for application of eye drops should be maintained strictly.
- Use the protective white glasses which have been provided for one week. Wearing dark glasses is not required.
- Protect your head and face from getting wet for one week while taking a bath.
- There is no specific diet restriction, walking around inside the house will show some quick improvement.
Will I have a good vision after Cataract surgery?
Yes, your vision will improve after the removal of cataract provided there is no retinal or optic nerve pathology.
What if I have Cataract in both eyes, will they be operated on the same day?
A doctor usually schedules the surgery of another eye once the first eye has healed. (approximately after 5-7 days)
Can I get Cataract again?
No, you cannot get cataract again. But, yes you can face capsular opacification (commonly known as chari) after cataract. This condition may cause you a blurry vision. The opacification can be removed using a YAG Laser (OPD procedure).
Why should I opt for MM Chokshi Medical Centre for my Cataract Surgery?
Quality
- The devices and disposables which are being used are approved by the US FDA.
- High end and scientifically approved premium IOLs.
- Image-guided cataract surgery with IOL Master 700 Zeiss Lumera – I Microscope, Callisto and Centurion Phaco Machine(Gold)
Safety
- Single-use medical supplies
- Strict aseptic precautions
- Highly sterilized OT
- Weekly evaluation of OT
- Backup of Phaco machine and microscope
Benefits:
- No injection
- No patch
- No dark glasses
- Fast recovery
- The patient can go home the same day
Why is early diagnosis important?
Our eyes are very precious and fragile once our vision is lost, it cannot be regained. But lowering the eye pressure can help retain the vision you have. Most patients who follow their treatment plan and take a regular eye check-up regularly can eliminate the possibility of losing the vision.
What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?
Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have symptoms in the early stage. If symptoms do develop it usually starts showing up later in the course of the disease (approximately when 75% damage is done). The common symptoms of Glaucoma include watering, seeing halos around the light, frequent change in glasses, pain in the eye and headache, loss of vision.
How often should I go to an eye doctor?
Different people have different needs depending on various factors. A normal adult with no family history should visit an eye doctor once in a year while a normal adult with a family history should visit a doctor once every 6 months and if the person has been diagnosed with Glaucoma he/she must visit an eye doctor every 2-3 months.
Who is at risk of developing Glaucoma?
Anyone can get Glaucoma, but certain groups are at higher risk. These groups include the age of 40 years and above, Diabetics/Hypertensives patient, patient with the family history of Glaucoma, long term consumption of steroids and trauma.
What are the different diagnostic tests available at MM Chokshi eye hospital?
Following are the various types of diagnostic tests available at MM Chokshi eye hospital.
- Goldmann Applanation Tonometry
- OCT pachymetry and optic nerve analysis
- (Zeiss Cirrus 500 HD OCT)
- Ultrasound Pachymetry
- Gonioscopy
- Visual Field Testing (Humphrey Field Analyser)
What kind of Glaucoma treatment options are available for a Glaucoma patient?
The treatment depends on the stage of Glaucoma. There are basically three types of treating it.
- Medical treatment :
- If you have open-angle glaucoma, your doctor may prescribe eye drops which decrease eye pressure by improving how fluid drains from your eye or by decreasing the amount of fluid your eye makes.
- Laser treatment :
- The laser treatment is used when eye drops don’t show desired results. During the laser treatment, a high energy beam of light is aimed at the eye which stops fluid from building inside.
- Surgical treatment :
- Surgery is recommended when Medical and Surgical both treatments fail to show any improvement. During the surgery, a part of the eye-drainage tube is removed so the fluid can drain easily.
What is LASIK?
Lasik surgery is performed to correct the vision and eliminate the problems that arise in near sight and far sight.
What are the basic steps of Lasik?
- Lasik is performed under topical (drops) of anaesthesia
- The process is done on both the eyes simultaneously
- The entire process is completely safe and painless
- The patient does not have to stay at the hospital and can go home immediately after the surgery.
What is the right age to get a Lasik surgery done?
- Anyone older than 21 years of age can opt for Lasik surgery.
- The number of your eyes should be stable for at least the last 6 months.
Who is an ideal candidate for Lasik?
- The person with the age of 21 or above
- Whose eye number has been stable for at least past 6 months
- Corneal thickness and curvature should be within normal limits
- Myopia – 1.00 to -15.00
- Astigmatism -1.00 to -6.00
What are the different tests which need to be done before Lasik?
- Slit lamp and dilated fundus examination
- Cycloplegic Refraction
- Tonometry
- Corneal Topography
- Pachymetry
What are the precautions to be taken before Lasik surgery?
- Stop wearing contact lens at least 2 weeks prior to surgery
- Do not use any type of scented perfumes or deodorants on the day of surgery
- Do not wear any type of eye makeup or bulky hair accessory that might interfere with your head position during the surgery
- Take a light meal before surgery
What are the precautions to be taken after the Lasik surgery?
- Do not wash your face/eyes for at least one week
- Wear the protective glasses for 1 week
- Do not use any type of eye makeup for 2 weeks
Is Lasik procedure covered under the insurance?
Most of the insurance agencies do not cover Lasik
Talk to your doctor whether or not LASIK is right for you. You shouldn’t have surgery if you :
- If you are younger than 21 years of age
- If you are Pregnant/Breastfeeding a child
- If you are taking certain medications such as hormone pills, antidepressants
- If you have a severe dry eye
For how long can I wear my contact lens?
Different types of contact lenses have different types of life cycle based on their duration such as daily disposable,monthly, quarterly or yearly. These lenses are supposed to be worn as per their specification. At a stretch, one can wear contact lenses for a maximum 8-10 hours a day. One thing should be always kept in mind to not sleep with their contact lens on.
How do I take care of my contact lenses?
- Wash your hands properly before touching the lenses.
- Clean the lenses daily even if you don’t wear them.
- Change the lens solution and clean the case daily/every alternate day.
- Do not wear lenses if you have redness, watering, itching, foreign body sensation.
- Consult your ophthalmologist regularly.