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Cataract surgery today is truly
a miracle of modern medicine. Both techniques and technology of
cataract surgery have made great
leaps in recent years. With the collaborative efforts of physicists,
bioengineers, and EyeMDs, modern cataract surgery
has reached a new pinnacle of success. If your vision has faded as a
result of cataracts, your likelihood of recovering more youthful vision
with cataract surgery is exceedingly high. If you choose to have
cataract surgery, you will likely enjoy a rapid recovery of enhanced
vision with little disruption to your lifestyle.
Small incision PHACO surgery and
foldable (soft) lens
implantation (including the new multifocal lenses) is currently the best recognised procedure for the management of cataract. This is done by Dr
Khalil in some of the best centers in Cairo, and patients get out of the
hospital in the same day.
The recent addition and
success of multifocal intraocular lenses is a huge leap forward in the
outcome following cataract surgery. These lenses can free the patient
from the need to even reading glasses additon after surgery. |
Cataract surgery is an advanced
sight restoring surgical procedure. We always try to remain at the forefront
with innovations in cataract surgery.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a cloudiness that
develops inside the lens of your eye. The cloud blocks the light passing through
the lens, which impairs your vision. The lens is a natural body part with which each of us is born. A cloudy lens can be the result of drugs or chemical exposure, trauma, radiation,
heredity, or simply related to the aging process. A cataract is NOT a growth, NOT a film, and NOT a tumor. When the cloudy lens reaches a certain point, we simply stop calling it a lens and start calling it a cataract.
How is a cataract diagnosed?
The patient is usually the first person to notice a cataract, because the first sign is often difficulty with vision. For example, street signs are difficult to read or require close inspection to
decipher. sometimes glare at night and difficulty with night vision is a prominent complaint. Some cataract patients notice increased daytime glare similar to a dirty windshield when driving west in the afternoon sunshine. To an ophthalmologist, the most common age-related type of cataract looks a lot like a dirty brown marble inside the eye. After surgery on one eye, it is not surprising that many patients remark about the bright vivid colors in the treated eye and the dim, brown, hazy vision in the other eye that still contains a cataract. Eye doctors using a slit lamp microscope can evaluate cataracts during an office examination.
Are there risks?
As you know, all surgeries carry
some risk. With respect to cataract surgery, there is always a possibility that
a complication might arise during or after surgery. We always explain these
risks before you decide to have surgery.
NO MORE PATCHES?
You may have seen patients after cataract surgery wearing an eye bandage or patch for one to three days.
The eye is usually patched for the journey home only.
How about anesthesia?
Topical or local anesthesia is the norm in
most of the cases
Will I need a lens implant?
After your cataract has been removed, the lens needs to be replaced in order for you to see properly. The only effective way to accomplish this is to have a new artificial lens (called an IntraOcular Lens Implant) placed in your eye. This is done during cataract removal. The IntraOcular Lens Implant should last the rest of your life.
Can the cataract come back?
No. But later, some patients notice their vision is not as good as it was right after surgery. This is usually due to what we call a "secondary membrane." The secondary membrane is best understood as a wrinkle or opacification of the capsule (envelope). The capsule (envelope) is essential for maintaining the position of the intraocular lens implant. This capsule is carefully cleaned and polished during cataract surgery, but in about 25% of patients it opacifies later. This can happen months or even years after successful cataract surgery. A secondary membrane can be corrected quickly and easily using a Yag laser right in our clinic. The laser procedure takes just a few minutes. It is painless and does not require anesthesia.
How long will it take to recover from cataract surgery?
You may see clearly on the very first day after surgery. Most patients agree that vision returns quickly, although the exact timing varies from individual to individual. For some patients, experiencing blurred vision for about a week is normal. Most patients resume routine activity within 24 hours.
How often do you check my eyes after surgery?
We ask that you return to the clinic the day following surgery so we can check your eye; again two weeks later; and your final appointment is two months after surgery. These are the normal postoperative visits, but remember you can have as many appointments as you need. At your final appointment
after surgery, you will be given a prescription for eyeglasses if needed. From this point on, it's a good idea to have your eyes checked every two years or so. Approximately
70% of patients use eyeglasses only for reading and close work.
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