Cataract Symptoms and Treatments

Cataracts are an extremely common condition in people over the age of 50. Approximately 77% of people over 70 will be affected by cataracts. It is particularly common in people who have a family history of cataracts and those who suffer from diabetes or problems with their kidneys. They are caused by the hardening and clouding of the lens which occurs as the body ages. As the cloudy area being to expand across the eye, eye sight becomes affected. In the early stages there may be just a slight blurriness that can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. As the condition develops however double vision can arise as can sensitivity to light. If cataracts are left untreated they can eventually lead to partial or even complete loss of sight.

The good news however is that there is treatment available that will not only instantly remove the problem altogether but will ensure it never returns. There is a very safe procedure called a refractive lens exchange. This procedure involves removing the affected lens of the eye and replacing it with a specially created artificial one. This type of cataract treatment is very effective and completely painless too.

A refractive lens exchange is carried out with the patient under local anesthetic. This is administered via eye drops. The procedure itself only lasts 20 minutes per eye. The patient is unable to feel a thing. After the treatment the patient will rest in the recovery room for a while. They can wait there for as long as they wish, but usually no longer than an hour is necessary. During this time the anesthetic will wear off. It is imperative that the eyes are not touched or rubbed for a few days following the procedure. This could be dangerous. Sometimes goggles will need to be worn in order to prevent this.

Once at home the patient should rest their eyes as much as possible. That means no bright lights, television or reading. Dusty or smoky environments need to be avoided for several weeks. The patient should get a good night’s sleep to get the healing process started. After just two or three days it will be usually possible to return to work and resume normal daily activities. The recovery period for a refractive lens exchange is extremely short. It will be necessary to see the eye surgeon for a follow up appointment so they can check on the healing and ensure everything is as it should be.

There may well be eye drops that need taking for a few weeks following the treatment. In rare cases the eyes may continue to itch or swell but the eye drops will reduce these symptoms after a few days. There are very few risks involved in this surgery. Thousands of people all over the world have had their vision restored with this type of surgery. It is ideal for those over 50 who wish to get rid of their glasses and have their youthful vision restored.

If you are interested in knowing more about this innovative cataract treatment you should contact your nearest Optegra private eye hospital. Here you can have this treatment carried out by experienced eye surgeons. A refractive lens exchange can also help fix a refractive error as well as deal with the cataract. It is ideal for someone who is short sighted or long sighted for example. The artificial lens that is used to replace the natural one can be created so it fixes the refractive problem as well as removing the cataract.

When it comes to eye treatment, nothing is more effective than refractive surgery or lens implant surgery. If you start to notice any intraocular lens implant complications you should discuss your options with eye care specialists as soon as possible.