Other common causes are:

• Family history.
• Medical problems, such as diabetes.
• Long-term use of medications, such as steroids.
• Injury to the eye.
• Congenital.
• Previous eye surgery.
• Long-term unprotected exposure to sunlight.

• Blurring of Vision - Cataract leads to a painless, progressive blurring or dimming of vision. The things may seem blurred around the edges, or your glass may seem dirty or scratched.
• Frequent change of glasses - Some forms of cataract lead to a change in refractive power of your lens and thus cause frequent changes in power of your glasses. Because of this, some patients may no longer need the reading glasses for near work, this phenomenon is known as 'second sight'.
• Glare - Cataract may also lead to sensitivity to light and glare, especially in bright sunlight or while driving at night.
• Double Images - The cloudiness in the lens may occur in more than one place, so that the light rays that reach the retina are split, causing a double image.
• Change in color vision - Cataract may also cause change in color vision. As the cataract develops its center becomes more and more yellow, giving everything you see a yellowish tinge.
• Poor night vision.
• Needing a brighter light to read.
• Fading colours.

There are mainly three types of cataract.

The Nuclear Cataract occurs in the center of the lens. This type is the most common form of cataract and is associated with the natural aging process.

The Cortical Cataract begins with spoke-like formation extending from the outside of the lens into the center. When the spokes reach the center, blurring and glare result in loss of vision. Diabetics commonly develop this type of cataract.

A Subcapsular Cataract develops very slowly and starts at the back of the lens. Symptoms may not appear until the opacity is well developed. Subcapsular cataracts are often found in patients with diabetes, high myopia, retinitis pigmentosa, and people taking steroids for extended periods.

Medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses cannot cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.

When should I have the surgery?

If visual impairment interferes with your ability to read, to work, or to do the things you enjoy then you will want to consider surgery. Based on the needs and the examination findings, the patient and the ophthalmologist should decide together when surgery is appropriate. 

Cataracts need not to be mature ('ripe') before removal. Today cataract surgery has the means to remove an immature cataract and a mature ('ripe') cataract.

What are the surgical options for cataract surgery, and which one is the best?

Today there are so many options in cataract surgery, e.g., routine extracapsular surgery with lens implant, phacoemulsification with a foldable or non-foldable lens implant, with or without stitches. The best procedure for a patient is usually the one with which his or her ophthalmologist feels the most comfortable, since these variations of cataract surgery are all quite effective. The patient should discuss the options with his or her ophthalmologist and the decision should be made on the basis of the requirements of the patient and expertise of the ophthalmologist.

What about pre-existing conditions?

Cataract surgery is beneficial even with the problems like macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes; the only limitation is that it may limit vision after surgery. If your eyes are healthy, the chances of restoring good vision following cataract surgery are excellent.

How is the surgery done?

After drops are used to numb the eye, a small, less than 3mm, incision is made. Special microsurgical instruments are used to break up and suction the lens fragments from the eye (phacoemulsification). The back portion of the lens capsule is left in place and polished for clarity. A small foldable intraocular lens will be inserted through the wound and unfolded in place of the natural lens. The incision is self-sealing so that no stitches are needed.

After cataract surgery, one may return almost immediately to all but the most strenuous activities. Medication must be administered as per the instructions of the surgeon. Your surgeon will tell you when you may return to work.

Conventional cataract surgery, which involves removal of the lens in one piece, results in an incision size of 10-12 mm and closure of this large incision with multiple stitches. This has been replaced with the modern technique of cataract removal [phacoemulsification].

What is phacoemulsification low stress surgery?

Phacoemulsification is a micro-incision technique of cataract surgery wherein an ultrasound probe breaks the cataract into tiny pieces and sucks them out. If a foldable implant is inserted the incision size is smaller (2.8 - 3.0 mm) as compared to an approximately 5 mm incision to accommodate a non-foldable lens. Both incisions are self-sealing and need no stitches. We will help you decide as to which lens should suit you best.

What are the benefits of low-stress phacoemulsification surgery for cataract?

 The wound is smaller [resulting in faster healing and visual rehabilitation], the surgical time is reduced, and no stitches are required. There is minimal or no post-operative discomfort and a quick return to your normal routine.

What precautions do I need to take after surgery?

The only and most important precaution is that you are NOT SUPPOSED TO RUB YOUR EYE for at least a week after the surgery and do not go swimming for two weeks after surgery.

You can return to your normal activities after surgery. You may bend, stoop over, go up and down stairs, watch TV, read or work in the garden as usual. You may take showers and shampoo your hair.

Is it still necessary to wear eye glasses after the Cataract Surgery?

Nowadays, cataract patients who have intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted during surgery may need reading glasses for close vision, but that's about it. In fact, with the newer multifocal IOLs, even reading glasses are unnecessary. People who don't receive IOLs wear contact lenses for distance vision, with reading glasses for close up. Or they may wear multifocal contact lenses for all distances. Rarely does anyone have to wear thick eyeglasses now.

How do I begin to have cataract surgery?

• Please fill and mail us enquiry form.

• Please also mail us your medical reports.

• Fix the date.