Cataract

Cataract means the loss of eye lens transparency. The human eye lens, which is located directly behind the iris, captures all images seen. It perceives light, colours and shapes of objects visualized on the retina. The glaucoma becomes apparent, for example, by the decrease of eyesight sharpness, fast change of dioptres, double vision and greying of images.

Symptoms of cataract

Congenital cataract is a very rare phenomenon. In 90% of cases the cause of cataract is a natural process of eye aging. As risk factors contributing to cataract belong for example the diabetes, use of some drugs and exposure to ultraviolate radiation or previous eye injuries.

When is the time suitable for operation?

Cataract should be operated when it restricts the patient in doing routine activities (driving a car, work, leisure time). The degree of this restriction is perceived differently by different people. Impaired perception of stereoscopic vision, loss of image and colour vision are especially objectionable.

The modern medicine has experienced in a huge progress in the operative treatment of cataract. Many millions of patients undergo operation of cataract annually. The principle of operation is the removal of a clouded lens and substituting it by a new one.

How is cataract operated?

Cataract is removed using microsurgery methods by means of phaco-emulsifying instrument (the lens core is disintegrated by ultrasound and lens particles are sucked away by a controlled negative pressure from the eye).

The operation is made essentially by a bloodless and suture-less method of micro incision 2.6mm and less. This method enables easier healing without the necessity of applying sutures.

The operation is quite painless, no injections are administered to anaesthetize the eye. Post-operation period is likewise painless. An anesthesiologist is always present at the operation as a guarantor of problem-free process of operation.

To protect the cornea, we use as surgical instruments high-quality protective viso-elastic preparations – Viscoat and Provisc by the American company Alcon.

We are implanting the best quality in-eye lenses today available – Alcon AcrySof Single-Piece Natural and the latest scientific news – the aspheric AcrySof IQ IOL using cartridge.

AcrySof lenses are made of acrylate – a soft, supple material made specially for intraocular lenses. This material is tolerated quite well by the eye and contributes to excellent long-term results. AcrySof lenses decrease the risk of secondary cataract to a minimum, which was corroborated by many clinical studies. One-piece intraocular lens AcrySof Natural represents a unique innovation. Its structure includes yellow colorants that prevents a portion of blue light from penetrating, thereby decreasing the risk of retina damage and subsequent eyesight worsening. AcrySof Natural lens resembles very much the „natural“, human lens. The lens AcrySof IQ IOL emanates optical aberrations, thus warranting postoperative vision acuity. We make operations by an extraordinary effective instrument – Accurus (Alcon), model 2003.

What can you expect from cataract operation?

The situation when a clouded lens is substituted by a new one seems to many a patient as a small miracle. All things they saw blurred before are again light, clear and in vivid colours. Many patients say could see so clearly in their youth for the last time.

Is hospitalization necessary?

No it isn't. Operation is made as an outpatient surgery (they are admitted to the Clinic in the morning, then follows the operation and in the afternoon, after dinner and an examination, they are released) or, at a special request, patients can be hospitalized for a short-term (admitted into the Clinic in the morning, then follows the operation and the other day they are released in the morning).

Convalescence after operation

After operation the eyesight stabilizes very fast, in the order of days. A full stabilization of condition and dioptres is attained usually within 3 – 4 weeks. The length of disablement is very individual and depends on the character of surgery done. It can range in the matter of days, and/or weeks. All cataract operations are made by the Clinic's chief ophthalmologist, doc. MUDr. Mgr. Zdenìk Smeèka, CSc. Patients are guaranteed to be individually cared for and if there is interest on their part, they can stay under permanent monitoring of the Clinic even after operation.