Cataract Eye Surgey - The Key To Better Vision

Our eyes carry a natural lens, which works in a similar way, as a camera lens. It allows light on to the retina, which is situated at the back of our eyes. The lens automatically adjusts the eye's focus, which allows us to have clarity of vision. With the capability of the eye's lens, we can see things both far and close to us. Water and protein are the two main constituents of this lens. The primary function of the protein content is to keep our eye's lens clear allowing light to go through.

With aging, this protein content may tend to cluster together forming a cloudy environment in a tiny section in the lens. This is known as a cataract. The size of the cloud may gradually cover more area of our eye's lens, resulting in serious visibility problems. Cataracts begin rather innocuously. Vision turning a little hazy and blurred, it would first seem that you are viewing things through a cloudy glass. When driving at night, the headlights from the opposite traffic seem overtly glaring. Colored objects do not look that bright.

With cataracts gradually setting in, you will see lesser and your vision is not going to get corrected with newer glasses or contact lenses. There are many who feel that losing the power of vision is a natural part of growing old. But if you find that the cataract formation in your eye is seriously affecting your daily activities and you are losing vision rapidly, you must consult your eye doctor immediately to check whether you are ready for a cataract surgery.

Developments and innovations in the field of ophthalmology, has made cataract eye surgery one of the simplest and smoothest procedures to restore one's vision. With nearly 1.5 million cataract surgeries done in America every year with an excellent tract record of return of normal vision for most people, it is one of the most common surgeries in the US. The entire purpose of a cataract surgery is to replace the cloudy lens with an intraocular lens, also called IOL.

Made of clear plastic material, there have tremendous developments made in the field of IOLs. The innovations have resulted in making the job of the eye surgeon simpler and lessened complications for the cataract surgery patient. For instance there are now IOL available which allow the patient to see all types of distances. There is another which poses a barrier for the harmful ultraviolet and blue light rays.

There are monofocal and multifocal intra ocular lenses available. A pre-surgery eye examination will decide which type of lens should be used to replace the natural lens of your eyes. The pre-surgery examination will also enable the eye doctor to assess the right power of the replacement lens which your eyes will need. In case cataract has to be removed from both the eyes, cataract surgery is done on one eye at a time. A typical cataract surgery without any untoward complication takes about 10 minutes. If you decide to do the surgery in the outpatient department, it will take longer since more time is needed for surgical preparation as well as recuperation time.