Friday 20 November 2020

What are Cataracts and should we have surgery. Research here

 

In the last two years, our Lazza has had cataract surgery on both his eyes.  This followed surgeries to repair detached retinas in each eye, and he was told there was a chance that cataracts could form afterwards.  So, we thought we would investigate the subject.

Cataracts are when the lens of your eye, a small transparent disc, develops cloudy patches.

When we're young, our lenses are usually like clear glass, allowing us to see through them.  As we get older they start to become frosted, like bathroom glass, and begin to limit our vision.  Cataracts most commonly affect adults because of ageing.

How about surgery?

If you have cataracts, it's your decision whether to go ahead with cataract surgery.  Cataracts usually get slowly worse over time. Surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the only way to improve your eyesight.  Surgery is usually offered on the NHS if your cataracts are affecting your eyesight and quality of life.  Lazza had both of his done at Moorfields, and the staff and everyone involved was fantastic.

The decision to have surgery should not be based solely on your eye test (visual acuity) results.  You may have other personal reasons for deciding to have surgery, such as your daily activities, hobbies, and interests.  You can choose to put off having surgery for a while and have regular check-ups to monitor the situation.  You need to be aware that here are no medicines or eye drops that have been proven to improve cataracts or stop them getting worse.

Before surgery, you'll be referred to a specialist eye doctor for an assessment.  During the assessment different measurements will be taken of your eyes and your eyesight.  The assessment is an opportunity to discuss anything to do with your operation, including:

·      your lens preference, such as near sight or long sight

·      the risks and benefits of surgery

·      if you'll need glasses after surgery

·      how long you'll take to fully recover

If you're used to using one eye for distance and one for reading, which is called monovision, you can ask to stay that way.  This usually means you'll get a near-sight lens fitted in one eye and a long-sighted lens fitted in the other eye.

Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.  It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.  This was how Lazza had his, and although you are awake during the procedure you are given something to help you relax.  It sounds weird but is fine.

During the operation, the surgeon will make a tiny cut in your eye to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear plastic one.  With the NHS, you will usually be offered monofocal lenses, which have a single point of focus. This means the lens will be fixed for either near or distance vision, but not both.  If you go private, you may be able to choose either a multifocal or an accommodating lens, which allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects.

Most people will need to wear glasses for some tasks, like reading, after surgery regardless of the type of lens they have fitted.  This has not happened to Lazza yet, but he knows it will probably come sooner than later.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, you'll need two separate operations, usually carried out 6 to 12 weeks apart.  This will give the first eye to be treated time to heal and your vision time to return.

After cataract surgery you should be able to:

·      see things in focus

·      look into bright lights and not see as much glare

·      tell the difference between colours

If you have another condition affecting your eyes, such as diabetes or glaucoma, you may still have limited vision, even after successful surgery.  Lazza says his vision is now clear and amazing, and the difference from the before and after is astonishing.

The risk of serious complications developing as a result of cataract surgery is extremely low.  Most common complications can be treated with medicines or further surgery.  There is a ridiculously small risk (around 1 in 1,000) of permanent sight loss in the treated eye as a direct result of the operation.

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