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Cataract

During their lifetime human eyes undergo constant changes. Nature created an intraocular lens – a lens, providing light refraction and its focusing on the retina, a sensitive tunic of the eye.

Due to this process a person can have clear vision. Unfortunately, with time the lens densifies, gets yellow and loses its main feature – transparency. This deteriorates our photo- and color-sensitivity. Gradually the lens becomes more cloudy while the vision is less clear. A mature cataract can decrease vision acuity so much that a person can become almost blind.

Cataract is a progressing clouding of the crystalline lens of the human eye. The name originates from the Greek word meaning “waterfall”.

A cataract prevents light rays from coming inside the eye to the retina and is the most common cause of vision deterioration in the elderly. It may also occur due to a number of somatic diseases or eye injuries. Some cases are remarkable for congenital cataract.

Signs and symptoms of cataract:

  • gradual decrement in visual acuity with age;
  • considerable decrement in twilight and night vision;
  • considerable decrement in visual acuity in bright daylight or artificial light due to “glow” around the light source'
  • decrease in the ability to perceive colors;
  • requirement of frequent change of eyeglasses;
  • difficulties while reading.

Causes of the formation of cataract:

  • age;
  • eye injuries;
  • genetic factors;
  • diabetes;
  • long-term use of some medicines;
  • ultraviolet radiation;
  • some metabolism disorders.

If the symptoms of cataract are insignificant, the use of some vitamin drops and periodic change of eyeglasses can postpone the moment of the surgery for some time and make life more comfortable.

However, surgical treatment is the only way of getting rid of cataract.

Usually, when the decrement in visual acuity becomes a hindrance for your daily routine, you have to think about treatment. You should consult your doctor to make a decision on the best time for the surgery in cataract extraction. Surgical treatment of cataract means the removal of the cloudy lens from the eye and its substitution with an artificial one. It allows restoring the transparency of optic media of the eye and its focusing ability. In the majority of cases the surgery in cataract extraction and implantation of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) secures absolute restoration of vision.

Often surgical extraction of cataract achieves an almost unbelievable restoration of vision practically immediately after the surgery.

Results of cataract extraction:

  • improvement in vision clarity - restored vision allows you to resume reading, watching TV, and engaging in your favorite daily tasks;
  • improvement in color perception - after cataract extraction your colors will not be blurred any more;
  • improvement in the quality of life;
  • decrease in the dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Often the implantation of the artificial lens solves old optical problems - short-sightedness, far-sightedness, astigmatism.
  • a special accommodating lens often allows the young people to give up wearing eyeglasses completely and to have clear vision at various viewing distances.

Modern surgical treatment of cataract is safe and efficient. At present the technology of microsurgery allows performing the ambulatory surgery. Usually the operation takes about 10–15 minutes. At present this is the most frequent and easy procedure. The golden standard in the world is a safe and predicted non-suture method of phacoemulsification together with the implantation of artificial foldable intraocular lens. The complications, related to this method of treatment, are quite rare. This is the method, presented to you by Klinika Zir. You can read more information about this surgery on our website under Our Services section.