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cataract

When you have a cataract, your eyesight becomes hazy or blurry

When you have a cataract, your eyesight becomes hazy or blurry. It could even result to vision loss when not treated correctly. Cataracts often appear as a part of the eye’s aging process. It is typical for people at the age of forty or fifty. Cataracts may even be caused by some other health problem like diabetes or trauma in the eye. 1 option offered to cure or get rid of cataract is via cataract surgery. If you wish to know more about its process, the cataract surgery cost, or its risks, keep reading this article for more details.

 

If someone who has a cataract does not suffer from any other eye problem, like glaucoma or macular degeneration, he or she has bigger chances of a successful eye surgery. With this operation, it may help patients with astigmatism and shortsightedness to eliminate the need for using eyeglasses but may still need reading glasses. Cataract operation is made by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens. The cataract surgery cost may change depending on your eye condition or the technology needed during the operation.

Key points to remember about cataract surgery:

  • The surgery eliminates the hazy lens from eye. Artificial lens is needed to replace the cloudy lens. If you choose not to use artificial lens, then you will have to wear thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses instead.
  • Surgery may be the only treatment for cataract, but not all cataracts need to undergo surgery. It depends on how much the eye problem affects you. Many people can still do well without surgery just by using contact lenses or eyeglasses.
  • Poor vision because of cataracts usually manifest gradually or over time. In such case, surgery may be needed before it gets worse.

 

Studies show that out of one thousand people who undergo cataract operation, fewer than ten persons have reported to have serious problem

What are the risks you need to look out for:

Studies show that out of one thousand people who undergo cataract operation, fewer than ten persons have reported to have serious problem. To avoid these health problems, newer surgery techniques like laser treatment are being used.

The patient’s vision may still take about 1 month or 2 after surgery, to recover. As the eye recovers, eyesight becomes better.

Sometimes, cloudy vision may still return. It may come back gradually, several months or years later. This happens when the posterior bag of the lens starts to become cloudy. This can be repaired simply with laser surgery to polish the back surface of the lens.

 

Serious health problems that may happen include:

  • Eye infection –a very serious eye infection called endophthalmitis which can lead to blindness. This is rare. Eye infection like uveitis, may affect your eyesight until you get proper treatment.

Retinal detachment – after the cataract surgery, there is a small risk for retinal detachment.

  • Retina or cornea swelling –this causes blurry vision. Surgeons will prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops to reduce swelling.
  • Astigmatism – it is usually remedied with glasses or contact lenses.

 

 

It is important to inform the doctor about your medical history because some health problem may cause cataract like diabetes. It is hard for the eye doctor to determine if cataract is due to diabetes if there is no detailed medical history given. When cataract is detected, it is best to consult a doctor before it become worse. The recovery process is predicted to be easier if the cataract is removed earlier.

 

To schedule an appointment at Atlas Eye, visit their site or call their eye care centre. Their staff will be there to answer your question or to aid you with any of your eye care needs.

 

 

 

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Cataract occurs when there’s clouding in the lens of a person’s eye

Cataract occurs when there’s clouding in the lens of a person’s eye. The lens could be found behind the iris or the colored part of our eyes. If the eye lens is yellowish or clouded, the light is scattered. This can make the vision blurry or sensitive from lights, most especially during nighttime. Cataracts could affect just your right or left eye or may develop to both. There are possibilities that one eye can be worse than the other. Cataracts are typical in patients who are over age forty years old or older. They may feel a gradual change in their vision as the cataract advances. What’s more is that there are health problems, eye injuries, and some medications, such as eye drops or eye creams that could cause cataracts. At 1st, it may not bother you but eventually the cloudy vision as well as light sensitivity may affect your daily life. This is the time when cataract surgery may be needed.

What treatments can you get when you have a cataract?

Cataract surgery is recommended to remove the cloudy lens in the eye. In this operation, the eye surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and then replace it with a clear artificial 1 known as the intraocular lens. It’s a simple as well as quick outpatient basis surgery that often takes up to half an hour only. You can also go home on the same day right after your surgery so you have much time to rest at home in order to adjust to your new vision. During the whole procedure, the patient will need to lie down. The eye doctor will numb the operating eye using anesthetic drops or an eye injection. An anesthetist will even provide intravenous sedation; therefore you will feel comfortable and painless throughout the surgery. You will be awake the entire surgery and may see some flashes of light in front of you. Cataract surgery is conducted in various ways, based on what is best for the patient’s condition. 1 way is to make a large cut through the eye and remove the lens in one piece. The other method is done via a keyhole incision. Ultrasound waves are used to break up the cataract lens into tiny pieces and then remove using vacuum. Studies show that this type of micro incision surgery, which will break up the lens works better, that is why eye surgeons usually use it.

The moment the cataract lens has been removed, the eye doctor will then put a clear and artificial plastic lens in the eye

The moment the cataract lens has been removed, the eye doctor will then put a clear and artificial plastic lens in the eye. It is recommended to implant the artificial lens right after cataract surgery. Some people can’t afford the cost of the artificial lens and choose not to have it. They will then end up getting thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses after the surgery. After the surgery, the patient must keep the eyes protected from dust, pollution, water and trauma during the 1st few weeks. This will help the eyes heal faster after the operation.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with Atlas Eye to learn more about how cataract surgery can help you. You may even call their office in Singapore or visit their website to set up an appointment.

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You eyes are being used every day for different reasons. From watching the television, looking at road signs, or reading a book, you need the eyes to finish your every day tasks and to know what’s happening around you. However, the proteins inside the lens of our eyes can start to clump together as we age, causing the lens to be cloudy. This is where a common condition known as cataracts start. Here are some factors that can put you at larger risks of getting a cataract:

  • Taking steroid medications
  • Exposure to radiation
  • High blood sugar
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Excessive exposure to sunlight

 

You may not notice that you have cataracts right away, especially in the early stages since it has little effects on the vision. Gradually, you will begin to notice that things seem a little blurry than the usual, like you are looking at a cloudy glass. If not treated, this condition could affect your daily activities due to blurring of eyesight. It is advisable to ask your trusted physician about it to know whether you need to undergo cataract surgery or take medications.

 

To find out more about this eye condition or its risk factors, read on for more details:

 

Here are the different types of cataracts

Cataracts are classified based on how and where they develop in your eye. These types include:

 

Nuclear cataracts – this type of cataract starts in the middle of the lens. This is why the lens to turn brown or yellow in colour. Nuclear cataracts are usually age related. Its symptoms may take years before they start to manifest and affect one’s vision.

 

Cortical cataracts – cortical is a wedge-shaped cataract. They commonly form on the edges of the lens and then starts to spreads inward, making a star pattern. Posterior capsular cataracts are usually faster to form as compared to the other types of cataracts.

 

Congenital cataracts – dissimilar to other cataract types, this one is already present at birth. There are even instances when it forms during a child’s first year.

 

Secondary cataracts – these are cataracts cause by a disease or medication. The diseases that could reason the development of cataracts include glaucoma as well as diabetes. You may even acquire cataracts if you take steroid medications.

 

Traumatic cataracts – this cataract could develop if a person experienced injury in their eye.

 

Radiation cataracts – as the name suggests, this cataract can form after a person undergoes radiation treatment due to various health conditions.

 

The risks of undergoing cataract surgery:

Cataract surgery is the most commonly done elective surgery. It is comfortable and often results to good visuals. However, similar to any surgery done, there are bound to be complications or risks involved. These post-surgery risks include:

  • Astigmatism – it is usually remedied by wearing an eyeglass or contact lenses.
  • Retina or cornea swelling –swelling in your cornea or retina could result to blurry vision. The surgeon may advice you to take anti-inflammatory eye drops to lessen swelling.
  • Eye infection –eye infection may lead to a condition known as endophthalmitis. It is very infrequent but it can lead to blindness.

Retinal detachment – after the cataract operation, there is a possibility that the person could have retinal detachment. When this happens, make sure to call or visit your surgeon to get immediate medical attention.

 

After the operation, your vision may still need around one to two months before it completely improves. Although the cataract has been removed, there is still a risk that your cloudy vision may return so make sure to regularly visit your surgeon for regular follow ups.

If you need more details about cataract surgery, visit Atlas Eye. They have the knowledge you need to answer your questions about cataracts.

 

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