There is no
non-surgical treatment for a cataract. Preventive measures
include wearing good ultraviolet (UV) blocking sunglasses as a
protection from the sun. Anti-oxidant vitamins may retard
cataract changes. There are no medications, dietary
supplements, exercises or optical devices to cure cataracts.
If symptoms from a cataract are mild, prescription glasses may
be sufficient to function more comfortably. Surgery is the
only way a cataract can be removed and cured. This treatment
involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a
substitute lens.
Removal of Cataract There are two important ways to
remove a cataract:
Phacoemulsification, or phaco: In this technique the
doctor makes a small incision on the side of the cornea,
(dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye). The
doctor then inserts a tiny probe into the eye. This device
emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the cloudy
center of the lens. Most cataract surgery today is done by
this method and is done by using local anaesthesia. This is
also called "out patient" or minor cataract surgery.
Extracapsular surgery: A longer incision on the side of
the cornea is made to remove the hard center of the lens. The
remainder of the lens is then removed by suction and replaced
by an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is a clear, artificial
lens that requires minimal care and becomes a less than
permanent part of the eye and improves vision. The operation
usually lasts 1 hour and is almost painless.
Can a Cataract Return?
A cataract cannot return because all or part of the lens has
been removed. However, in some people who have had
extracapsular surgery or phacoemulsification, the lens capsule
becomes cloudy after a year. It causes the same vision
problems as a cataract does. To correct this, laser
capsulotomy can be performed. In laser (YAG) capsulotomy a
laser (light) beam is used to make a tiny hole in the capsule
to let light pass. This surgery is painless and does not
require stay in the hospital.
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