Our Specialties
Cataract and Cataract - Refractive surgery
Eyes have an important structure called lens, which helps focus the rays of light on to the retina. Clouding or opacification of the lens is cataract. This may be present at birth or occur due to injury but the most common variety is related to age (Senile Cataract). This is the most common cause of visual disability in the aged population.
Cataract is the commonest cause of preventable blindness in the world. The treatment is
surgical with replacement of the opacified lens with an artificial intraocular lens. The
current method of performing suture less surgery with a small incision by using the
phacoemulsification machine and the introduction of a foldable lens results in early visual
rehabilitation.
Centre for Eye and Health Care (CEHC) is equipped with the latest microscopes and phacoemulsification machines and the
surgeries are done in modern operating theatres with standards as defined by NABH and
with disposable consumables from companies of repute for optimal results.
The options of cataract removal are, manual or by phacoemulsification.
Manual cataract removal is now days done by a large sutureless self-sealing wound,
where the nucleus of the cataract is removed manually and the remaining cortical matter is
aspirated and then a lens is placed. The healing time is slower and the chances of
inducing a higher postoperative power is more.
Phacoemulsification, on the other hand uses ultrasound energy to cut, emulsify and
aspirate the cataract through a self-sealing small incision. Current technology
advancements and newer techniques helps the surgeon perform phacoemulsification in
nearly 100% of the cataracts. Visual rehabilitation is rapid. It is a however a highly skilled
procedure and the experience of the surgeon counts as it amounts to working in a 6mm
area with a phaco probe vibrating at 60000 MHz
The current phaco technology allows safe and fast cataract removal through sub 2mm
incisions and the placement of modern monofocal / trifocal/ toric lenses in the bag to give
rapid and less spectacle dependant vision
Femtosecond cataract surgery or “Laser” cataract surgery is the current method where the
entry to the eye, the opening in the capsule and dividing the nucleus is done with the help
of laser thereby avoiding the use of blade, therefore it is also called “bladeless surgery”.
After opening the capsule the rest of the surgery is done by phacoemulsification.
Following cataract removal, visual rehabilitation occurs with placing of the lens in the eye.
In today’s world, all eyes must have an intraocular lens(IOL).
The best lens material in use today is acrylic which makes the lens foldable and can therefore be inserted through a small incision. Intraocular lens (IOL) could be monofocal, extended depth (EDOF) or trifocal and toric or non toric. Some of these lenses like trifocal or EDOF IOLs significantly decrease the dependency on glasses for good vision, most patients are spectacle independent. Toric lenses, while they do not promise spectacle independence, significantly lower the cylindrical power in the eye thereby improving the quality of vision tremendously.
The type of IOL and the techniques to be adopted depends on the eye condition, type of
cataract, cost and requirement of the patient. It is best to discuss with your surgeon and decide on the type of lens suited for you.
There are many cataract scenarios where additional gels are needed to protect the
surrounding structures while emulsifying the nucleus of the cataract or hooks are needed
to dilate the pupil or rings are used to stabilize the capsular bag before placing the IOL.
Often the surgeon can predict the need, sometimes the need to use these are taken
peroperatively.
The cataract surgeon sometimes suspects or observes a lack of adequate support for
placing the type of IOL initially discussed and changes the model while doing the surgery,
for better stability and long term safety of the eye. Such spontaneous decisions are best
left to the operating surgeon. Rarely, the cataract cannot be removed in its entirety or sinks
into the vitreous cavity and calls for a second sitting to remove it and place a IOL. These
situations are less commonly encountered.
Our Contacts
- Dr. Ashok Eye Hospital (Unit of Centre For Eye And Health Care)
3rd Floor, Ramaniyam Isha,11, Old Mahabalipuram Road,
Thoraipakkam, Chennai - 600097
Get directions on the map - 044 44961414 | 9445261414 | 9176939047
(Contact Us) - cehcchennai@gmail.com