Cataract is one of the most common causes of failing sight, yet modern medicine now offers prompt and highly effective solutions. Here is a simple guide to what it is, how it affects your daily life and how it is treated.
What is a cataract?
- Clouding of the natural lens
- A cataract is the condition in which the natural, clear lens of the eye hardens, loses its transparency and becomes cloudy.
- Light no longer focuses correctly
- Because of this clouding, light rays can no longer pass through clearly and focus properly on the retina.
What does it mean for your sight?
As a cataract develops, the quality of vision declines gradually, causing the following symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- The world loses its sharpness, as if you were looking through a dirty window.
- Difficulty reading
- Details and letters become hard to make out.
- A darker image
- Everything around you looks less bright.
- Faded colours
- Colours lose their vividness and fade (often taking on a yellowish or brownish tint).
- Easy glare
- Strong sensitivity to bright light (e.g. sunlight or car headlights when driving at night).
How is modern cataract surgery done?
Sight is restored through a short and painless surgical procedure:
- 1Emulsification and removal
The clouded natural lens is liquefied (using ultrasound energy) and carefully removed.
- 2Placing the intraocular lens (IOL)
A special artificial lens is inserted in place of the lens that was removed.
- 3Unfolding in the “capsule”
The lens is inserted folded and then unfolds safely inside the eye’s natural “bag” (the lens capsule).
The role of the intraocular lens in the result
Choosing the right intraocular lens plays a decisive role in the final visual result after surgery. In particular, we focus on the following:
- Top-quality materials: Intraocular lenses of the highest quality are used, to ensure the sharpest possible vision.
- Planning your vision before surgery: Before the operation we decide together whether your final vision will be set to be better for distance or for near, depending on your daily life.
- Choosing a specialised lens: We discuss the option of advanced-technology lenses, such as toric lenses (to correct astigmatism), trifocal lenses (for complete independence from glasses) or extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses. The final choice is made individually, based on your profile, your needs and the particular anatomy of your eye.