Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of loss in vision in adults aged 60 and older and by the age of 70 almost 80% the human population have cataracts. Vision loss due to cataracts is highly treatable thanks to advances in both cataract surgery and intraocular lens full restoration of vision is a reality. Most patients are back to normal activities of life in a couple of days.

The human eye has a lens in its center that helps focus light and images. When we are born the lens is perfectly clear and with age the lens becomes harder and less clear. Dim or blurry vision, halo appearing around lights, colors appearing faded and sensitivity to bright lights can all be symptoms of cataract.

Cataract is detected in the eye and assessed with equipment called Slit Lamp. Cataract Surgery is performed as a Day Care Procedure, where the eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Facts about Cataracts

It is one of the most safest and most common surgries performed.
The procedure takes about 15-30 mins and is relatively painless.

When is Cataract Surgery Done?

Cataract should be removed as soon as it begins to affect daily activities. With any of the above mentioned symptoms setting in, it is the right time to go for Cataract removal. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE CATARACT TO GET MATURE as unnecessary delay can lead to avoidable complications and more difficult surgery. Cataract surgery can be undertaken successfully in any season. Summer or rainy season have absolutely no effect on the outcome of the cataract surgery.

Phacoemulsification with foldable IOL

In phacoemulsification, ultrasound power is used to break the hard cataract into minute pieces, which are then sucked out through a small 1.5-2.8mm incision. A foldable lens (IOL) of the required power is then implanted. The soft construction allows the lens implant to be folded for insertion through a 1.5 to 2.8mm micro incision. Once in place, the lens unfolds to its regular size of 6 mm.

Treatment Options for Cataract

Microincision Cataract Surgery (PHACOEMULSIFICATION)

Requires a very small incision of 1.5 - 2.8mm
Cataract Extraction with Phacoemulsification is followed by foldable lens implantation
Short day care procedure
Stitchless, bloodless, painless surgery
Chances of infection are very low
Minimum post surgery precautions
Quicker healing and recovery

With phacoemulsification and implantation of foldable Intra Ocular Lens (IOL), treatment of cataract has become very simple for the patient. This is backed up sophisticated state of art Ophthalmic equipment and expertise making the procedure safe and accurate leading to rapid recovery of vision. Thus phacoemulsification with modern foldable lens implant is the most recommended treatment for cataract.

Cataract Surgery at Premier Eyecare

We believe in a systematic approach to Cataract Surgery

Pre-Operative Evaluation

Below are some of the procedures that we do as a preparation for the surgery:

Visual Acuity Assessment
Slit-lamp Biomicroscopy
Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
IOP measurement (applanation tonometry)
IOL power measurement (immersion a-scan)
Manual Keratometry
Routine Lab Tests
Examination by Physician

Counseling

Details of the surgical procedure for standard and complicated cataracts, the post-operative outcomes and most importantly the IOL(Intra occular lens) options are explained to the patients and their attendants.Pre-operatively the patient is counseled and the IOL is selected after evaluating the ocular measurements and visual requirements/needs of the patient.

Premium IOL Options Available are:

Monofocal Aspheric Intra Ocular Lens

TECNIS® 1-Piece lenses are Monofocal foldable IOL with thin aspheric design for improved image quality with single piece acrylic design for superior biocompatibility and stability.

TECNIS® Toric IOL

Only the TECNIS® Toric IOL provides your patients with a solution for their cataracts and astigmatism that combines all of these compelling advantages:

Proven to exceed the ANSI criteria for toric lens rotational stability
A unique Tri-Fix 3-point fixation system for long-term stability and maintaining correction of astigmatism
Optical Synergy – the exclusive combination of optics, material, and design that infuses every TECNIS® IOL with meaningful patient benefits that promote excellent patient outcomes
Enhanced individualization and customization made possible by the patient-centric design of the TECNIS Toric Calculator

Blurred vision

Vision with TECHNIS® IOL

Multifocal Intra ocular lens

TECNIS MULTIFOCAL enables you to see clearly at near, intermediate, and far distances without glasses in all light conditions.

Patented wavefront-designed anterior aspheric surface designed to correct spherical aberration, for sharper vision at near and distance.
A full range of outstanding vision across near, intermediate and far distances
Enhanced performance tailored to your patients’ lifestyles.
High performance in any lighting conditions
A high degree of spectacle independence.
High patient satisfaction with binocular vision correction.

This is a Multifocal acrylic foldable IOL which is the most frequently implanted Presbyopia correcting IOL with more than a quarter million implantations worldwide , has patented Apodised technology to minimize visual disturbances and has an aspheric optic to improve image quality and functional vision.

Astigmatic Intra Ocular Lens Correction

TECNIS® Toric IOL is an astigmatism correcting Monofocal acrylic foldable IOL which is rotationally stable in the eye . The power of IOL is calculated using the TECNIS® Toric web Calculator to ensure precise astigmatic correction.

Surgical Procedure

Phaco emulsification With IOL Implantation In The Presence Of an Anesthetist who oversees the Monitored Anesthetic Care thus improving the safety for the patient and also take up high-risk cataract surgery. Patients with cataract and high risk general conditions like heart disease, patient on a pace maker, advanced kidney diseases on dialysis etc.

View the Phaco emulsification procedure

Enhanced Surgery

Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI)

The outer layer of the eye can be divided into three areas: the cornea, the sclera and the limbus. The cornea is the clear part, or the window, that covers the iris and the pupil. The sclera is the white part of the eye. The limbus is the thin area that connects the cornea and the sclera.

LRI are done along with cataract surgery to reduce dependance on eye glasses after cataract surgery. The eyes are marked after numbing eye drops are instilled in the eye. Then you will be taken into the operation theater, after which additional markings are made to mark the site of the LRI incision. LRI is completed before the lens removal in cataract surgery.

Limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) treat low to moderate degrees of astigmatism. As the name suggests, the surgeon makes small relaxing incisions in the limbus, which allows the cornea to become more rounded when it heals. LRIs are placed at the very edge of the cornea (in the limbus) on the steepest meridians.Assesment to placement and length of the LRI is determined after a Topography instrument (Tomey TMS4) test of the cornea.

Limbal Relaxing Incisions are for those who:

have astigmatism
want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses
have no other diseases affecting their eyes

Realistic expectations

The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. However, we cannot guarantee excating results as with any biological variables you will have the results you desire.