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In this, the complete surgery is carried
out through a tiny
opening-microincision (less than
3 mm)-into the eyeball. A sophisticated
equipment with a pencil-like probe is
used to break the cataractous lens into
small fragments which are then aspirated
out. A special variety of IOL made of
either silicon or acrylic material is
folded and inserted into the eyeball
through the microincision. This variety
of IOL is known as
foldable IOL. |
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Insertion of Foldable IOL |
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Is phacoemulsification more than 30
years old and is well established as a
safe procedure. |
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Because of the small size of incision
involved, it offers a safer surgery with
lesser chances of complications during
and after surgery. Usually no sutures
are required to close the microincision.
Post-operative recovery is much faster
and often the patient can resume normal
lifestyle from the very next day. |
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Is phacoemulsification with foldable IOL
costlier than conventional ‘microsurgery’? |
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Phacoemulsification involves use of
several sophisticated equipment and
consumables thus increasing the total
cost of the surgery per se as compared
to conventional microsurgery. However,
considering the cost of recurring
expenses in the long run,
phacoemulsification with a foldable IOL
works out more economical than
conventional
‘microsurgery’. |
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Why are glasses necessary after IOL
implant surgery? |
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The natural lens of the human eye has the
ability to change its shape in order to
focus at various distances as required,
comparable to the adjustable focusing
mechanism in a SLR camera. The
artificial IOL material, however, has a
fixed shape and power for a specific
distance only, the situation being
comparable to that in an ordinary
‘click-and-shoot’ camera wherein one can
take clear pictures at a specific
distance only. The power of the IOL is
selected by your surgeon based on
biometry estimations and your visual
requirements. Because the IOL has a
fixed power, glasses are required after
cataract surgery for clear vision at all
other distances. |
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Nowadays, a new variety of IOL known as
multifocal IOLS,
is fast gaining popularity. Although it
can be used in selective cases, it
offers fairly clear vision without
glasses at near, intermediate and far
distances.
Multifocal IOLs are made foldable
material with specially designed optics
and are costlier than other varieties of
IOLs. |
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Can cataract be treated by lasers? |
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Contrary to popular myth cataract surgery
by lasers is still in experimental
stages. As of now, phacoemulsification
which utilizes ultrasound energy is the
most well established method of cataract
surgery. |
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However, there is a condition known as
after cataract which blurs a person’s
vision weeks or months after cataract
surgery. This occurs in nearly 40% of
patients undergoing conventional
‘microsurgery’
as against less than 20% in those
undergoing phacoemulsification with
foldable IOL. ‘After cataract’ can be
treated easily by a short laser
procedure on an outpatient basis. In
most cases this laser treatment needs to
be performed only once. |
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Treatments
& Surgery
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Phacoemulsification
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