Extra capsular surgery - A slightly longer incision is made on the side of the cornea to remove the hard centre of the lens. The remainder of the lens is then removed by suction. In most cataract surgeries, the removed lens is replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is a clear, artificial lens and becomes a permanent part of your eye. With an IOL, your vision will improve because light will be able to pass through it to the retina. People who may have problems during surgery or who have other eye diseases cannot have an IOL. They may be given soft contact lens or glasses to provide powerful magnification instead.
Protect yourself from the sun - Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts. Whenever possible, wear sunglasses when you're outdoors.
Intracapsular surgery - is a third, rarely used type of surgery, in which the surgeon removes the entire lens, including the capsule. Usually the lens is replaced by an Intraocular lens, which becomes a permanent part of the eye. If a condition or disease prevents the use of an Intraocular lens, a soft contact lens may be prescribed instead. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, but surgery should not be done on both eyes until the results of the first eye surgery are known, so that the benefits and risks can be weighed. The indications for cataract surgery in the second eye are the same as for the first eye.
Cataract surgery - is very successful in restoring vision. In fact, it is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with over 1.5 million cataract surgeries done each year. There are 2 types of surgery that can be used to remove lenses that have a cataract First is Extracapsular surgery consists of surgically removing the lens, but leaving the back half of the capsule (the outer covering of the lens) whole. High-frequency sound waves (phacoemulsification) may be used to soften the lens to help removing it through a smaller cut second is Intracapsular surgery involves surgically removing the entire lens, including the capsule.
A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye care professional can make this decision together. Once you understand the benefits and risks of surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult. You do not have to rush into surgery.
Phacoemulsification - is the most commonly used procedure. A small incision is made on the side of the cornea and a tiny probe is inserted into the eye. This probe emits an ultrasound wave that softens and breaks up the cataract. The debris is then removed by suction.
Avoiding Ultraviolet Radiation - The simplest and most effective way to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation is to stay out of the sun. A hat and cover-up should be worn outside, particularly when the sun is most intense (10 AM - 3 PM). A wide-brimmed hat can reduce eye exposure to UVB radiation by 30 - 50%. Because the sun's rays are highly reflective, sitting in the shade or under an umbrella by itself does not guarantee protection.
Clothing that blocks or screens the harmful rays of the sun (UVA and UVB), in combination with wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen, all help prevent damage to the eyes and skin. Any one of these by itself, even the sunscreen, may not be enough to prevent sun damage.
