What is a Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. The lens, located just behind the iris, or the coloured part of your eye, works like the lens of a camera.
The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded preventing a clear image from forming on the retina. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding as well. By Definition, this is a cataract, and over time it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it more difficult to see. However, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process.
A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, or seeing things at night becomes more difficult. It may also be why the eyeglasses or contact lenses that help you read, or do other simple tasks, no longer help.
Cataract Surgery
Has become one of the safest of all surgeries, due to advances in clinical technique and surgical technology. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure and nearly 98 percent of all cataract surgeries are performed each year without serious complications.
The cloudy cataract is removed and is replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Lens replacement has been used for many years and has an excellent success rate. In most cases you will spend just a few hours at the site. Because your eyes will be treated with anesthetic, you should feel no pain but may experience brief pinching and pressure sensations during the procedure.
Often you will be expected to visit the office at the end of the day or the next day for a follow up examination. This will not take long but is a necessary step in ensuring the best visual outcome.
Potential Complications
Although most patients see an improvement, some do not, usually because of other factors e.g. retinal aging, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, injury or a “lazy eye”. Also, some operations prove to be more difficult as no two eyes are identical from a surgical standpoint. Uncommon complications such as infection (1/1000), hemorrhage, vitreous or retinal problems can happen. In less than 1% of cases a different IOL insertion technique may be required due to anatomical variations. In these rare cases, the IOL would be implanted as part of a second procedure at a later date. The chance of serious problems have been significantly reduced with the advent of surgical technique, IOLs and equipment.
Lens Replacement
Today, even the artificial lenses that replace a cataract patient’s own natural lens have changed dramatically.
Thanks to the latest advances in technology and materials, many artificial lenses have significant clinical advantages over previous lens models. We will speak with you regarding the various options and technologies available during your clinical visit.
Patient Lens Options
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Multi Focal Foldable Lens
- Design allows insertion through small incision most often eliminating ANY sutures.
- Surface designed to allow some near and distant vision without glasses.
- Ideal for those who wish to minimize their reliance on glasses for near and distant tasks.
- Glasses will likely still be required for occasional use. (eg. Fine near and very distant work)
- Must be implanted bilaterally. (both eyes)
- Mimics the natural crystalline lens by filtering UV light.
- An adaptation period of weeks to months should be expected to allow neuro-adaptation to this lens.
- Halos may be seen in some instances especially directly after implantation.
- Not ideal for those with significant astigmatism (> 1 diopter), significant myopia, or macular degeneration.
- Mimics the natural crystalline lens by filtering UV light.
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Toric Foldable Lens
- Design allows insertion through small incision most eliminating ANY sutures.
- For consideration when Astigmatism (seen when the surface of the eye has an uneven curvature) is significant. This causes distortion when not corrected by glasses.
- This lens corrects significant amounts of astigmatism and therefore decreases reliance on glasses for distant work in those with large amounts of astigmatism.
- Glasses will still be required afterward especially for near work.
- Mimics the natural crystalline lens by filtering UV light.
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Advanced Aspheric Foldable Lens
- Design allows insertion through small incision most often eliminating ANY sutures.
- No sutures allowing for faster healing, less discomfort and a more stable refractive result.
- Allows light rays from different angles to meet at one focal point.
- Provides a clearer, sharper image with less visual distortion.
- Increases contrast sensitivity allowing better vision in dim light. (eg. night driving, reading a menu in a dark restaurant)
- Made of acrylic (Alcon IQ) or Silicone (AMO Tecnis).
- Mimics the natural crystalline lens by filtering UV Light.
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Standard Foldable Lens
- Design allows insertion through small incision most often eliminating ANY sutures.
- No sutures allowing for faster healing , less discomfort and a more stable refractive result.
- Provides good quality vision when accompanied by good ambient lighting.
- Made of silicone.
- Mimics the natural crystalline lens by filtering UV light.
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Rigid Non Foldable Lens
- Only implant covered by MSP.
- Made of PMMA (high grade plastic material)
- Similar to first lens inserted in the eye over 20 years ago.
- Requires large incision (6 mm) and sutured closure.
- Has UV filtration.
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