Cataracts

Surgery and Laser Treatment

An ophthalmologist will decide on the most appropriate type of operation for the eye.

All eyes are different, and generalizations should not be made. The type of cataract extraction and whether or not a lens implant is inserted will vary. In phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract surgery, a protective clear capsule is retained in the eye. In up to 50% of patients, this clear capsule, through a normal process of cell regeneration, may become cloudy causing the vision to become hazy. This is not another cataract. In these patients, a laser procedure may be required months to years later. This opening of the cloudy membrane is called a capsulotomy. In the past this was done surgically, but at present is done using painless laser techniques.

In an eye with a normal retina (the back portion of the eye), excellent vision is usually achieved. Individuals with other eye problems such as glaucoma, previous retinal detachments, previous eye surgery or injury need special care, but significant visual improvement is often possible.