What is Cataract
Cataract is a condition of cloudiness in the eye's lens that causes a decrease in vision.
A healthy eye lens is transparent and allows the passage of light from outside into the eye. However, the transparency of the lens is affected by changes such as age, diseases like diabetes, or the use of medications like steroids.
When cloudiness develops in the eye's lens, it makes it difficult for light to pass through the lens to the retina. As a result, the image the brain receives from the eye appears blurred and hazy.
The clinical signs of cataracts due to age begin around the ages of 50 to 60, with about 40% of the entire population over 60 developing signs of cataracts.
Cataract usually develops in both eyes, but initially, the decline in vision quality occurs only in one eye. The rate of disease progression varies from person to person.
If cataract impairs your quality of life, there is no need to wait until the cataract is "mature." Advanced technologies make this surgery one of the most successful and safe ones.
Cataract Surgery
The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. The opaque lens is replaced with an artificial acrylic lens that will stay for the rest of your life. Cataract surgery is a painless short outpatient procedure, performed under local anesthesia. The incisions made during the surgery are minimal (mm) and do not require stitches. The recovery process after cataract surgery is very quick. Usually, patients return to their daily life in a few hours to a few days. The goal of the surgery is to improve vision quality and reduce the need for glasses.
Technological Advancements in Cataract Surgeries
New technologies allow cataract surgery to be even more precise and improve even more the recovery process. These technologies include mainly LASER CATARACT SURGERY and PREMIUM IOL. Laser cataract surgery makes the surgery shorter, safer, and more precise.
Cataract Laser Surgery
Until recent years, cataract surgery was performed using the "Phacoemulsification" method. This method allows for the breakdown of the opaque lens using ultrasound within a short time while preserving the lens capsule. The procedure lasts about 15-30 minutes, is performed under local anesthesia, is painless, done on an outpatient basis, and recovery is quick. The technique is based on the principle of minimal incision, without stitches, and the replacement of the opaque lens with a clear one.
The most advanced method today for performing cataract surgery is using a computerized laser called "femtosecond." The laser beam allows precision levels of microns in the incisions performed on the cornea and the lens capsule. Thanks to the ability to achieve much higher levels of precision than manual operation, laser cataract surgery allows critical stages of the procedure to be more accurate and safer.
The laser significantly improves 3 important stages during cataract surgery:
- Creating the incision in the cornea
- Creation of an incision in the lens capsule – Anterior capsulotomy
- Removal of the opaque lens
After the removal of the opaque lens, a new clear artificial lens is implanted into the lens capsule. The precision level of laser surgery allows for more optimal conditions for the implantation of a premium lens.
In most cases, one can return to regular daily life the day after the surgery without any special restrictions, except for preventing eye trauma.
Premium Lenses in Cataract Surgery
For patients undergoing cataract surgery, advanced premium lenses can be implanted. They correct the vision tailored for each patient. Premium lenses allow vision at all distances without glasses. These lenses, such as multifocal lenses, will provide good vision for both near and far vision, so there is no need for reading glasses after the surgery. Additionally, toric lenses can be implanted to correct astigmatism, or multifocal toric IOL that will correct presbyopia and astigmatism. After surgery with premium lenses, most patients can complete all tasks without their glasses. One of the only downsides is that multifocal lenses can sometimes cause haloes while night driving.
How is Cataract diagnosed?
The clinical examination for detecting cataracts is simple. The eye doctor performs the examination using a slit lamp. After administering drops that dilate the pupil the doctor will rule out other diseases that can also reduce the vision. During this test, the doctor will assess the condition of the lens and its transparency. If you have cataract, the doctor will explain to you your options, including Cataract Laser and cataract with PREMIUM IOL, allowing you to get rid of the glasses if you are interested.
Tests performed before cataract surgery
- Visual acuity test
- Refractive correction assessment
- Optical biometry: assessment of corneal radii and axial length
- Topography of the anterior and posterior cornea
- Evaluation of additional eye diseases requiring combined surgery, such as glaucoma, corneal diseases, or retinal diseases.
- Determining the artificial lens to be implanted in the eye
In summary, to protect your vision, you need to be diagnosed early enough and followed thoroughly with regular visits where progression is assessed with regular examinations.
Dr. Kaplan-Messas has been trained extensively in cataract surgery and cataract laser surgery. She is a pioneer in the field and has been teaching numerous techniques in the US for many years at the “Association for Cataract and Refractive Surgery” (ASCRS). Our clinic is equipped with the most advanced technologies. For more than 20 years, we have performed the most complex surgeries with care and outstanding results.
