Cataracts

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens focuses light rays on the retina at the back of the eye to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, the light rays cannot pass easily through it and the image becomes blurry.

When a cataract forms, the lens of the eye becomes thick and cloudy. Light cannot pass through it easily and vision is blurred.

Cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process, but can also come from:

• Eye injuries;

• Certain diseases;

• Medications;

• Genetic inheritance.

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How can a cataract be treated?

The cataract may need no treatment at all if the vision is only a little blurry. A change in your eyeglass prescription may improve vision for a while.

There are no medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. When you are not able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.

Cataracts cannot be removed with a laser, only through a surgical incision. In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye. In most cases, the focusing power of the natural lens is restored by replacing it with a permanent intraocular lens implant.

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What can I expect if I decide to have surgery?

Before surgery

The day of surgery

Following surgery

• Use the eye drops as prescribed;

• Be careful not to rub or press on your eye;

• Use over-the-counter pain medicine if necessary,

• Avoid very strenuous activities until the eye has healed;

• Continue normal daily activities and moderate exercise;

• Ask your doctor when you can begin driving;

• Wear eyeglasses or shield as advised by your doctor.

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How is the surgery done?

Under an operating microscope, a small incision is made into the eye. Microsurgical instruments are used to fragment and suction the cloudy lens from the eye. The back membrane of the lens (called the posterior capsule) is left in place.

A plastic intraocular lens implant will be placed inside the eye to replace the natural lens that was removed. The incision is then closed. When stitches are used, they rarely need to be removed.

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When is the laser used?

The posterior capsule sometimes turns cloudy several months or years after the original cataract operation. If this blurs your vision, a clear opening can be made painlessly in the center of the membrane with a laser. Laser surgery is never part of the original cataract operation.

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Will cataract surgery improve my vision?

Over 95% of cataract surgeries improve vision, but a small number of patients may have problems.

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Complications

• Infection, bleeding and swelling or detachment of the retina are some of the more serious complications that may affect your vision.

• Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you have any of the following symptoms after surgery:

• Pain not relieved by nonprescription pain medication;

• Loss of vision;

• Nausea, vomiting or excessive coughing;

• Injury to the eye.
  

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Preexisting conditions

Even if the surgery itself is successful, the eye may still not see as well as you would like. Other problems with the eye, such as macular degeneration (aging of the retina), glaucoma and diabetic damage may limit vision after surgery. Even with such problems, cataract surgery may still be worthwhile.

If the eye is healthy, the chances are excellent that you will have good vision following removal of your cataract.

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Copyright © American Academy of Ophthalmology