Singapore Eye Surgey, Eye Care Clinic - Eye Retina Surgeons

Cataract

A cataract is an opacity in the natural, normally clear, human crystalline lens. It leads to gradual, painless, progressive blurring of vision in one or both eyes. Everyone will get a cataract if they live long enough! There are many different forms of cataract, some are yellow, some are white and some are black. It used to be thought that a cataract had to be ripe before surgery was required; this is now not true. A cataract should be removed when a patient’s vision is affecting his work or leisure.

How do you suspect you might have a cataract? Well, if you make new glasses and you still cannot see well, there is usually something wrong with the eyes and a cataract is the most likely cause, especially if you are over the age of 50.

Fortunately, small incision cataract surgery has advanced to such high standards that removing the cataract and replacing it with an acrylic lens implant not only restores, but enhances vision. Indeed, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed operation in any field of surgery. It is arguably also the most successful of all operations with a very low complication rate when performed by experienced surgeons.

What is a cataract?

Cataract is the name given to any opacity in the human lens. The normal human lens is clear like glass, but with age and certain conditions like diabetes and trauma, the lens opacifies leading to cataract formation.

What are the effects of cataracts?

Cataracts usually cause gradual progressive painless, blurring of vision in one or both eyes. Certain types of cataract also cause progressive myopia (increased short-sightedness)

When is the best time for cataract surgery?

When you are unhappy with your vision, be it for work or play.

What about waiting for my cataract to be 'ripe' or 'mature'?

That is an old fashioned way of thinking that is no longer applicable. Indeed, surgery to remove a cataract is easier when the cataract is not too 'ripe' or 'mature'.

Is cataract surgery painful?

No. Not at all if appropriate anaesthesia is used.

What are the risks of surgery?

No operation is a hundred percent risk free. The one major complication that we try very hard to prevent is that of post-operative infection. There is a 1 in 1000 risk of this happening. Even if this happens, it can usually be treated.

Will my cataract come back again?

No. Your cataract will never come back again. What can happen a few years after surgery is thickening and opacification of the lens capsule that supports the lens implant.