Salient Features of PHACO

1. The incision (wound) required for PHACO is small (3 mm) and the wound construction is such that it is self-sealing
2. Since PHACO incision required is small , no need of stitches for closing

3. After the PHACO Surgery the patients have to stay in hospital for a day and the very next day they can be discharged

4. Medication is not needed for long days
5. The Patient can recover soon and he can do is daily routine works

ANS: FAQ (1)

The lens is made mostly of water and protein. The protein is arranged to let light pass through and focus on the retina. Sometimes some of the protein clumps together and starts to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it hard to see.

ANS: FAQ (2)

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

1.Cloudy or blurry vision

2.Problems with light, such as headlights that seem too bright at night, glare from lamps or the sun, or a halo or haze around lights

3.Colors that seem faded

4.Double or multiple vision

5.Frequent changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses

ANS: FAQ (3)

Age-related cataract: Most cataracts are related to aging.

Congenital cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may not affect vision. If they do, they may need to be removed.

Secondary cataract: Cataracts are more likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, such as diabetes. Also, cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.

Traumatic cataract: Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or later.

ANS: FAQ (4)

A comprehensive eye examination usually includes:

Visual acuity test:

This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances. Pupil dilation: The pupil is widened with eye-drops to allow us to see more of the retina and look for other eye problems.

Tonometry:

This is a standard test to measure eye pressure. Increased pressure may cause glaucoma. Ultrasound (Biometry) of the eye to calculate the power of the lens to be implanted. Other eye and general test may be required to establish complete diagnosis and fitness for cataract surgery.

ANS: FAQ (5)

The treatment of cataract is essentially surgical and the timing is decided by the patient's visual needs. A cataract needs to be removed only if it affects one's vision so much that it interferes with one's daily activities. Patient makes that decision himself. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the operation on the two eyes is performed preferably with an interval of one month (unless there is any emergency).

ANS: FAQ (6)

Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in India today. It is also one of the safest and most effective. More than 90 percent of people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward.

ANS: FAQ (7)

The lens is enclosed in a capsule, an outer covering that holds it in place. There are many different techniques for cataract surgery, but all fall into one of two basic categories:

Phacoemulsification: The front of the capsule is opened and the cataract is removed, leaving the back of the capsule in place. Sound waves (ultrasound) may be used to soften and break up the cloudy lens so that it can be removed through a small cut. This is called phacoemulsification. Currently phacoemulsification with a foldable intraocular lens implantation through a 3 mm incision is the most preferred method of cataract surgery and has the best results, all over the world.

ANS: FAQ (8)

The lens is important for focusing. When it's removed, it usually needs to be replaced. 90 percent of times IOLs help achieve 6/12 vision or better.

Intraocular lens
An IOL is a clear, polymer (Silicone or Acrylic) lens that is placed in the eye during cataract surgery. It does not need any after-care. With IOL one does not need to wear glasses for most of their work and moving about. Moreover, the area of clear vision is much wider. However, for fine near of distant work one may still need low powered glasses.
With phacoemulsification a special type of foldable IOL is implanted through a small 3.2 mm cut.

ANS: FAQ (9)

Before surgery, some test are performed including tests to measure the curvature and the length of the eye ball by a special Ultrasound machine. This helps in calculating the power of the IOL to be implanted. Some other tests e.g., blood, urine, ECG, etc may have to be performed to establish general fitness of the patient.

ANS: FAQ (10)

Most people who have cataract surgery can go home the same day. It's normal to feel itching, sticky eyelids, and mild discomfort for a while after cataract surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. In most cases, reasonable amount of healing will take in about 4 weeks.

Mild pain, irritation, redness and watering is common occurrence after cataract surgery but subsides in a few days. Problems after surgery are uncommon, but they can occur. These can include infection (in severe cases endophthalmitis), bleeding, higher pressure inside the eye (glaucoma), inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), haziness of the cornea and detachment of the retina. Any problem occurring should be immediately reported to the eye surgeon especially in the event of unusual pain, loss of vision, or flashing lights.

ANS: FAQ (11)

After the surgery, you can read and watch TV almost right away, but your vision may be blurry. The healing eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. This healing period may take many weeks. How long it will be before you can see normally depends on the vision in your other eye, the lens you choose, and your vision before surgery. With an IOL, for example, you may notice that colors have a blue tinge, and that after you've been in bright sunlight, everything is reddish for a few hours. It doesn't take long to adjust to these changes.

ANS: FAQ (12)

Sometimes people after cataract surgery develop an opacification of the lens capsule called after-cataract. This can easily be treated by a Laser called YAG Laser which makes a small opening in the capsule - YAG Capsulotomy.

ANS: FAQ (13)

Regular eye examinations after the age of 40 years are mandatory to detect eye diseases early and to institute timely treatment. Exposure to UV rays in sun light especially in tropical countries predisposes to early development of cataract, therefore, prevention of exposure to UV rays by regular use of UV protective sun glasses may confer certain degree of protection. However, this conjecture is not supported by any research or studies