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What are Cataracts?
Ans. Cataracts can be described as a clouding of the eye's natural lens, part of the eye responsible for
the light enabling us to have good, crisp image.
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What causes Cataracts?
Ans. Most Cataracts occur as part of ageing process However in some instances Diabetes, trauma,
strong family history and various medicines and chemicals can cause Cataracts.
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What are the first signs of Cataracts?
Ans. The first symptoms of Cataracts may be a change in the sharpness of vision or dulling of colours
Vision is somewhat blurred or dimmed People may have difficulty in driving or walking on the
road specially in the late evenings or night Some people may have difficulty in reading A few
people may have problems in daytime and in bright lights also Some may see diffirent colours or
rainbow haloes at night, double vision or multiple vision Slowly the difficulty in vision mceases
and people starts having gross visual problems.
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Do medicines help in Cataracts?
Ans. No So far none of the medicines have been found to be useful in preventing or treating Cataracts.
The only treatment available for Cataract in surgical.
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When one should go for surgery?
Ans. The decision to operate is determined by you and your eye Surgeon This decision is based on the
degree to which cataract is impairing your vision and its effect on your lifestyle.
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Do the Cataracts have to be mature for operation?
Ans. No it is realy an old concept The science techniques have advanced much more in the last two
decades for us not to wait for maturity of Cataracts With the present techniques of cataract
removal it is absolutely unnecessary for the person to wait and suffer One van have the Cataract
removaed at any stage of its development with extremely good result.
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Which is the best season for operation?
Ans. This is another misconception Seasons have no effect on the outcome of surgery. Summer,
Monsoon or Winter, any season is good for surgery.
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What are the options available for surgery?
Ans. A person can either undergo a conventional extra capsular extraction with intraocular lens
implantation (ECCE) or one can now undergo a technique called "PHACO" which is latest in the
world.
In ECCE (better know as micro surgery) the clouded lens is removed in one piece through a 10
to 12 mm incision and then a plastic lens (I.O.L.) is implanted through it and then the would is
stitched up.
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What are the advantages of phaco over convertional surgery?
Ans. To most patients the potential benefit of this incision usually results in little discomfort during or
after surgery, a very fast recovery, a swiftest return to normal activities.
When conventional surgery is done (ECCE), as the incision size is large there are quite a few
restriction on activities like no bending, lifting or straining for 4 to 6 weeks after operation and
visual recovery may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks.
In Phaco' the Cataract is removed through a tiny incision, about 3 mm, with the help of an
instrument called "Phacoemulsifier" The instrument vibrates over 40,000 times a second to gentry
fragment the Cataract in to tiny pieces which are simultaneously sucked out In dose not need any
stitching.
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Is Phaco safe?
Ans. YES Millions of such surgeries have already been performed It is a much better and safer surgery
and very satisfying to the patients and is getting very popular.
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Am I to old to have Cataract surgery?
Ans. No adult is too young or too old surgery. The general health of the patient should be considered
Diabetes and High Blood Pressure should be under control at the time of surgery.
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Are glasses needed after lens implant?
Ans. A glasses prescription is generally needed either for reading, distant vision or both, but it is usually
a very small power.
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What if don't have the lens implanted?
Ans. If one undergoes cataract operation without having lens implanted then one has to wear very thick
glasses without which there is almost no vision In addition to wearing thick soda bottle' like
glasses there are plenty of other disadvantages As far as possible one must have lens implanted for
the best visual outcome.
I have heard so many people telling me that they have got back their years and have started feeling
young after a successful lens implantation.
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Are Cataracts removed with laser?
Ans. No Nowhere in the world are cataracts removed with laser Many people call Phaco-laser by
mistake for easy understanding After surgery sometimes the members over which the lens is
placed starts thickening which may hamper vision This can take place soon after surgery.
sometimes after it, or even after many years after the surgery This is removed with the help of
laser which is a very minor procedure involving less than a minute after which one can get back
immediately to his normal work This growth of membrane is a normal and natural process and is
not due to any defect or fault in surgery. Thus we can see that with the advanced techniques
cataract removal has become very easy and simple and most patients are able to enjoy a good
quality of life professionally and socially after the surgery.