Cataract is a condition that occurs when the natural lens of the eye, which provides vision and is located behind the pupil, loses its transparency and becomes cloudy. In other words, it leads to impaired vision that can be described as looking through a foggy window.

Cataract is an eye disorder which is seen in elderly people; however, it can also occur:

• In newborns,
• In diabetes patients,
• As a result of physical injuries to the eye,
• As a result of long-term use of medicines with cortisone.

Symptoms of cataract: 

• Gradual impairment of vision
• Sensitivity to light (glare)
• Double vision
• Difficulty in reading
• Impaired night vision
• Faded or yellowed colors
• Frequently changing number of diopters

Cataract is not a disease that can be treated with medication or glasses. There is not an effective method which can stop the progression of cataract and a formed cataract can only be treated with surgery. Thanks to modern techniques, today cataract operations are performed with a pain-free procedure without using needles or anesthesia, and patients can return home on the same day. There are some important points that need to be considered in relation to cataract surgeries. The experience of the doctor and the quality of the lens implanted into the eye directly affect the success of the surgery. After a surgery performed using poor quality lenses, problems may develop in the eye. This may also result in the risk of developing cataract for the second time after a short period. For patients, this means risk of another surgery and additional costs.

Congenital Cataract

Congenital cataract is a unilateral or bilateral clouding (opacification) of the lens that is present at birth. Congenital cataracts may develop due to infections the mother had or the medications she used during pregnancy or with no apparent cause. One pupil being a different color from the other (white) or crossed eyes (strabismus) can be a sign of cataract. Once such symptoms are observed in infants, an ophthalmologist should be consulted without delay. If a congenital cataract hinders vision and particularly if it is unilateral, surgery should be performed as soon as a diagnosis is made. A specialized ophthalmologist decides on the timing of surgery after a detailed examination. The most important problem in an eye with congenital cataract is lazy eye (amblyopia). In order to overcome amblyopia, surgery should be performed as soon as possible in accordance with the ophthalmologist’s advice.

CATARACT SURGERY WITH FEMTOSECOND LASER

During  the surgery, the eye is numbed locally using an eye drop and a pain-free procedure is performed without using needles, blades or anesthesia. Also called bladeless cataract surgery, the laser technology named “Femtosecond Laser” allows completing the most important stages of the operation without using blades. This method reduces the risk of complications significantly. In cataract surgeries with Femtosecond Laser, patients are able to return to their homes after a 15-minute operation, recover in a very short time and immediately return to their daily routines.

While cataract surgery has advanced significantly today in terms of technology, some complications, though rare, may develop in the operations, which cannot be avoided. The doctor’s experience is very important in avoiding such complications. Today, cataract treatment with laser is possible, which is a groundbreaking development in eye surgery.

At Dünyagöz Hospitals Group, cataract surgery with “Femtosecond Laser” technology offers a reliable and comfortable treatment both for the physician and the patient. The surgery not only eliminates the cataract problem but also offers an option to correct near- or far-sightedness by a special intraocular lens implantation.

Many stages of the cataract surgery, which are normally performed manually, are now computer-assisted thanks to the special imaging techniques provided by femtosecond laser.

In the treatment of cataract, bladeless cataract surgery with femtosecond laser minimizes the risk of complication and offers a high level of reliability and comfort to the patient during the operation; yet another advantage is that the position into which the artificial intraocular lens is implanted – the most important phase of the operation – is prepared in a perfect manner.

Thus, the new technology gives patients with refractive errors besides cataract such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism the option to reduce their dependency on using glasses for near and far vision thanks to the advanced intraocular lens implantation.

CATARACT SURGERY WITH THE PHACO METHOD

PHACO is another technique used in the treatment of cataract. With this technique, entry into the patient’s eye is made through a small 2.2 mm incision. “Viscoelastic gel”, a special liquid, is used during the cataract surgery. “Viscoelastic gel” ensures that the natural lens is detached from other layers of the eye without causing any damage. It is for single-use only and may not be used on another patient.

The intraocular lens that has lost its transparency is broken up within the eye by a machine emitting ultrasonic waves and sucked out. A foldable, artificial lens is implanted into the eye. Since the incision is small, no suture is needed. Due to the risk of infection, both eyes are not operated on the same day. A minimum of a 2-day interval is recommended between the operations of two eyes.

FDA-approved foldable intraocular lenses and FDA-approved Viscot liquid (viscoelastic gel) are used at Dünyagöz Hospitals Group. Cataract treatment is a vital operation that requires microsurgery. The success of the surgery depends directly on the experience of the doctor, sterilization of the operating room and sterilization and quality of the supplies used.