The 5 most common eye problems
- Dry Eye. Dry eye is one of the most common eye problems
- Diabetic Retinopathy. Retinopathy is the most common eye problem in people with diabetes
- Cataracts. As we age, the lenses in our eyes can become cloudy
- Glaucoma
- Macular Degeneration
Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down, causing vision to become hazy or cloudy. Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts.
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye (the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light). Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts.
What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
- Cloudy Vision – One of the most obvious signs of early-stage cataracts is the appearance of noticeable fuzzy spots in your field of vision.
- Difficulty Seeing at Night – Patients with early-stage cataracts also report gradual worsening of nighttime vision.
There are three primary types of cataracts: nuclear sclerotic, cortical and posterior subcapsular.<./p>
- Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts
- Cortical Cataracts
- Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts.
Types of cataract surgery
- Phacoemulsification. Phacoemulsification is a surgical procedure that uses an ultrasound probe to break up the cloudy lens for removal
- Extracapsular surgery
- Laser-assisted cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.
During cataract surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and a clear artificial lens is usually implanted. In some cases, however, a cataract may be removed without implanting an artificial lens. Surgical methods used to remove cataracts include: Using an ultrasound probe to break up the lens for removal.
Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. During LASIK surgery, a special type of cutting laser is used to precisely change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eye (cornea) to improve vision.
Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.
Is LASIK better than glasses? Laser vision correction actually corrects astigmatism, it does not compensate for the refractive error in a similar manner to glasses and contacts. As a result, patients with astigmatism frequently notice better vision with LASIK than with contacts or glasses.
LASIK often offers improved vision without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses. In general, you have a very good chance of achieving 20/25 vision or better after refractive surgery.
While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of LASIK will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need an enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.
You can expect LASIK cost for both eyes to be anywhere between Rs. 35,000 – Rs. 75,000.
Both LASIK and PRK use a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear outer layer of your eye that focuses light so you can see clearly. But they do it in slightly different ways. LASIK creates a thin flap in the cornea. PRK removes the outer layer of the cornea, which grows back over time.