RANGE OF SERVICES

 

What is a cataract? 

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. It is the most common cause of blindness and is conventionally treated with surgery. Visual loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructs light from passing and being focused on to the retina at the back of the eye.  It is most commonly due to aging but there are a wide variety of other causes.

What are the symptoms of cataract? 

The first symptoms of cataract may be completely unnoticeable. Typical viewing in advanced cataract may be compared to seeing through dirty glasses. Objects become unclear, blurred or darker. The contrast between colors becomes smaller. Reading, watching TV or driving becomes more difficult. When the clouding of the lens is serious the patient is blind. 

How to treat cataract? 

Eye surgery is the only efficient method. The clouded lens is removed and replaced by artificial lens. It really wrong to allow the lens to be completely cloudy. If left untreated, cataract may eventually lead to blindness. The decision on surgery must be taken with your ophthalmologist when the eyesight gets so bad that it becomes almost impossible to live a regular lifestyle.

In our clinic we do the most common operation called phacoemulsification with the use of Infinity Vision System by Alcon – an American company. This is currently the most modern operation technique. It usually takes about 30 minutes. A special microsurgery device is inserted into the eyeball through small cuts not longer than 2,8mm. The cloudy lens is then destroyed with sound waves and taken out, and a lens made of a clear, artificial material, such as plastic or silicone, is put in. This is usually done under local anaesthesia or with anaesthetic drops. The anaesthetic completely blocks the feeling from your eye area and you will stay awake during the operation. The implanted lens is selected by biometer. It is crucial to choose the implant to have the best operation results. In our clinic we use Zeiss IOL Master 500 – the most modern device for implant value calculation. In some cases we also use Ellex Eyecubed  ultrasound biometer.

Cataract removal is a one-day surgery. After the operation the patient returns home accompanied by another person. The eye is protected by andage that is removed the next day during a control visit in our clinic. The patient is allowed to do some basic activities but he/she cannot shake head or bend down. Several days after the operation the patient comes back to his/her regular lifestyle.

We offer our patients all types of intraocular lens, including AcrySOF RESTOR multifocal lens as well as AcrySOF TORIC providing pre-surgery astigmatism correction.

 

 

          

  Rys. 1                                    Rys. 2                                      Rys. 3                           

 

The pictures (allowed by Alcon) present the stages of the operation.

Picture 1  Destruction and taking out the lens by phacoemulsification method.

Picture 2  The moment of implanting the lens rolled in a cartridge.

Picture 3  The eyeball with implanted artificial lens in its posterior chamber.