Normal Eye                                                                                Eye with Cataract

The lens is the part of the eye that helps focus light on the retina. The retina is the eye’s light-sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain. In a normal eye, light passes through the lens and gets focused on the retina. To help produce a sharp image, the lens must remain clear. Cataract is defined as opacification or clouding of the natural clear lens that results in visual problems. The lens is made mostly of water and protein. The protein is arranged to let light pass through and focus on the retina. Sometimes some of the protein clumps together. This can start clouding small areas of the lens, blocking some light from reaching the retina and interfering with the vision. In the early stages, cataract may not cause a problem. The cloudiness may affect only a small part of the lens. However, after some time, the cataract grows larger and clouds more of the lens, making it harder to see. Because less light reaches the retina, the vision may become dull and blurry. Though the cataract does not spread from one eye to the other, many people develop cataract in both the eyes. The most common type is related to aging. Other causes include diabetes, inflammation and trauma. Some children are born with cataract or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may not affect vision. and If they do, the cataract may be removed.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

	Cloudy or blurry vision.
	Glare from lamps, headlights or very bright sunlight; or a halo around lights.
	Colours seem faded.
	Poor night vision.
	Double or multiple vision

However these symptoms can also be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, it is essential to have a check up with an Ophthalmologist.

Treatment

In early stages of cataract, the vision may improve by using different eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting. However, when these measures are no longer helpful, a simple surgery becomes the only effective treatment. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with daily activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. The decision for surgery has to be made by you and your eye care specialis. If you have cataract in both eyes, the doctor will not remove the cataract in both the eyes at the same time. You will need to undergo surgery for cataract for each eye separately. Sometimes, cataract needs to be removed even if it doesn’t cause problems with vision. For example, a cataract should be removed if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, or if it is associated with diseases of the back of the eye that may need independent surgical treatment.

How is a cataract removed?

There are two primary surgical ways to remove a cataract.
Phacoemulsification or Phaco: A small incision is made on the side of the cornea, through which a tiny probe is inserted into the eye. This device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the cloudy centre of the lens so it can be removed by suction.

In most cataract surgeries, the removed lens is replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is a clear, artificial lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of the eye. At Our Centre we have the Services of excellent Cataract Surgeons who along with the patients decide the suitability of a particular IOL as a wide variety of IOL’s are available. For people who cannot have an IOL due to problems during surgery or due to another eye disease, a soft contact lens may be suggested. For others, glasses that provide powerful magnification may be prescribed.