Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye and its replacement with an artificial intraocular lens implant.
Cataracts Symptoms
Cataracts involves a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. It is a condition that effects many aging adults. Many patients’ first symptoms are strong glare from lights and small light sources at night, along with reduced acutiy at low light levels. Other symptoms include: blurred and foggy vision, reduced vision even with glasses, reduced night vision, the appearance of bright colours as dull or muted.
The best way to treat a cataract is with surgery that removes a patient’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a new, synthetic lens to restore the lens’s transparency and consequently, a person’s vision clarity.
The Procedure
Following surgical removal of the natural lens, an artificial intraocular lens implant is inserted. Cataract surgery is generally performed by an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) in an operating theatre setting, using general or local anesthesia, usually causing little or no discomfort to the patient. Well over 90% of operations are successful in restoring useful vision, with a low complication rate. Day care, high volume, minimally invasive, small incision phacoemulsification with quick post-op recovery has become the standard of care in cataract surgery all over the world.
Most cataracts are performed under local anaesthetic that is usually given with eye drops or an injection around the eye. You will be awake during the operation and will be aware of a bright light, but you will not be able to see what is going on.
What is Phacoemulsification?
Phacoemulsification uses ultrasound that breaks up the cataract into tiny pieces which are then removed by using suction.
Saint James Hospital is the only medical facility on the island that offers our clients a choice of the best intraocular lenses on the island.
Intraocular Lens (IOL)
An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens that is implanted during a cataract surgery. Since the implant is placed in or near the original position of the removed natural lens vision is restored and peripheral vision, depth perception and image size are unaffected. Artificial lenses are generally permanently placed, they require no maintenance and are neither felt by the patient nor noticeable by others.
Saint James Hospital Eye Clinic is proud to be the only Hospital on the island that gives its clients a choice of single-piece, UV-protected lenses that can be either monofocal, multifocal or astigmatism-correcting lenses. This contrasts with the utilisation of the same type of lens for all cataracts patients that is still practiced in other medical facilities.
Natural IQ Lens
This lens is designed to enhance contrast sensitivity, reduce spherical aberration, and improve functional vision. It offers the following advantages over traditional intraocular lens implants:
- Reduction of spherical aberration
- Enhanced vision quality
- Improved contrast sensitivity
- Filtered blue light protection (Ultra Violet Rays)
- Rich, vibrant color perception
The IQ lens is ideal for patients who wish to be corrected for distance vision and are comfortable wearing glasses. Because this lens does not offer the ability to accommodate or adjust one’s focus at varying distances, glasses would still be required for near and intermediate tasks.
This intraocular lens implant is also an excellent choice for those who enjoy driving at night, as it delivers great clarity with minimal reports of glare or haloes under reduced lighting conditions.
Toric Lenses
This type of lens is similar to the Natural IQ and has the same specifications, but with an extra, it corrects Astigmatism.
Toric IOLs are designed to correct astigmatism and are considered “premium” lenses.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an eye condition with blurred vision as its main symptom. The front surface of the eye (cornea) of a person with astigmatism is not curved properly – the curve is irregular – usually one half is flatter than the other – sometimes one area is steeper than it should be.
When light rays enter the eye they do not focus correctly on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Astigmatism may also be caused by an irregularly shaped lens, which is located behind the cornea.
Restore Lenses
Now there’s a revolutionary new way to potentially leave your glasses behind forever – the innovative ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL), the latest advancement in cataract surgery technology. The ReSTOR lens has been uniquely designed to provide enhanced image quality and a full range of vision – up close, far away and everything in-between – giving cataract patients the best opportunity to live life free of glasses.
Some Cataract Facts
- Cataracts do not spread from one eye to the other, however, they do often develop in both eyes at the same time.
- Cataract is not caused by overuse of the eye.
- Most cataracts are age-related and develop in adult life after the age of 40, however there are other types that might be congenital (present at birth), drug induced (through the intake of steroids), and traumatic (caused by injury to the eye)
- Cataracts are more common in people who suffer from certain diseases such as diabetes.
- Cataracts can occur in children, however the condition is rare.
- When a cataract is developing you might experience the need to change prescriptions for glasses more often. When a cataract worsens, stronger glasses no longer improve eyesight.
- Surgery is the only method to remove a cloudy lens.
Coming into the Saint James Hospital Eye Clinic for Cataract treatment
As occurs with other medical conditions, once you start experiencing vision problems that might be connected to the development of a cataract, you should attend an outpatient consultation with an ophthalmologist. During this consultation a thorough examination of the eye will be done and the cataract procedure will be explained if the eye specialist diagnoses you as a good candidate for the procedure. The difference between the choice of lenses available will also be explained.
If you wear contact lenses you should leave them off before the pre-assessment appointment as follows:
- Soft contact lenses – two weeks
- Hard contact lenses – six weeks.
Since the eye test will include eye drops that will dilate the pupil, you are strongly advised not to drive yourself to this appointment.
When will the cataract surgery be performed?
Cataract surgery will be advised when the cataract progresses to such an extent that it is interfering with daily activities or your normal lifestyle. There is no cataract prevention that has been discovered to date, however, modern cataract surgery enjoys a high success rate.
If cataracts are present in both eyes, surgery is done on each eye at separate dates. Generally the most seriously affected eye is operated on first.
You might be required to undergo some tests that will attest to your general health but you will be informed about this beforehand.
How long will I have to stay in the hospital after the procedure?
Cataract surgery is a day-case intervention meaning that you will be admitted into hospital, will undergo the operation and will be discharged on the same day.
Post-Cataract Surgery
You will be given post-operative instructions by the Eye Clinic ophthalmologists and nurses and we kindly ask you to make sure you understand them and that you follow them closely as they will facilitate your recovery and help make the procedure a success.
