It will probably surprise many people just how common cataract surgery is. It is, in fact, the most common surgery performed in the UK.
In this article, we are going to look at what causes cataracts, why cataract surgery is so common and what happens during the process.
What causes cataracts
Eyes are made up of a complex network that includes the cornea, iris, and lens. The lens, a small transparent disc, is the part of the eye that helps the light-sensitive cells within the retina focus on light rays as they enter the eye. As you grow older, it becomes more likely that various parts of your eyes will begin to deteriorate without proper care, and this includes the lens.
One of the main issues that lenses can run into is a condition called cataracts, in which the vision becomes cloudy or blurry. Age-related cataracts are fairly common in people over the age of 60 and can progress to the point at which surgery is required.
Cataracts can also affect babies and children although this is extremely rare.
It’s important to remember that there are many ways to maintain eye health and these tips may help reduce the severity and speed at which eyesight deteriorates. Many health professionals recommend you consider a Mediterranean diet to ensure you are absorbing sufficient vitamins and minerals that will improve your overall eye health.
But if cataracts do develop and become severe, surgery is often the answer.
How common is cataract surgery?
As we have already stated, cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries available. In the UK, according to the NHS, it is the most common surgery carried out.
The percentage of people who have cataract surgery increases with age, and over 70 percent of people over the age of 85 have cataracts.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. We are therefore extremely lucky how common cataract surgery is in the UK and that this surgery helps thousands of people maintain good eyesight into their later years.
Cataract surgery is normally available on the NHS if cataracts are affecting eyesight and quality of life. However, with the NHS, you will usually be offered monofocal lenses, which have a single point of focus. If you decide to go private, you will normally have more options to choose from.
Cataract surgery is somewhat more prevalent in women than men, although 40% of surgeries are performed on men so the margins aren’t particularly drastic.
What happens during cataract surgery?
Surgery can seem a daunting prospect, but because cataract surgery is so common it could be considered routine, and there really isn’t too much to worry about. You may be concerned with encountering pain or discomfort, but during cataract surgery doctors generally use a local anaesthetic to numb the eye. This usually comes in the form of eye drops.
Overall the surgery is quite quick and is often completed within 15 minutes, meaning you can go home on the same day and don’t need to prepare yourself for a lengthy stay in the hospital.
During cataract surgery, the surgeon will remove the cause of your vision impairment, which is the cloudy lens.
They do this by making a small incision in the eye, and they replace the cloudy lens with a clear one. The clear lens is made of plastic and is known as an intraocular lens implant or IOL. It is important to note that if you wear glasses, your prescription will probably need to be altered after cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery has an extremely high success rate in the UK. Most people who have the surgery report improved vision within a few days or weeks.
Once your eyesight has improved you can go back to carrying out daily tasks that were previously much more difficult. However, sometimes cataract surgery requires further treatment such as YAG laser capsulotomy.
Yag Laser Capsulotomy
YAG laser capsulotomy is occasionally required when there are issues with the healing process of cataract surgery. After cataract surgery, a limited number of people experience something called posterior capsule opacification, or PCO. This complication is not always immediate and often occurs around 2 years after surgery.
What causes posterior capsule opacification?
Posterior capsule opacification occurs because when a surgeon removes the original lens from someone’s eye, they leave a thin clear bag that surrounded the lens in place. This is known as the capsule, and the new lens is contained within this.
Sometimes, cells that live on the capsule can remain after surgery and begin to form a white or cloudy covering over time. This may initially seem quite similar to a cataract, but once a cataract is removed it cannot return.
What does Yag Laser Capsulotomy entail?
YAG laser capsulotomy uses a laser called a YAG laser. The laser in question improves your vision after the complications mentioned above. It does this by targeting the lens in the eye and creating a small hole in the centre through which light can travel. It is a very safe procedure that is highly effective in dealing with PCO.
We hope this article helps you understand how common cataract surgery is and, most importantly, how effective and safe the surgery is and how it can improve the quality of your life if cataracts become problematic.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, ensure that you contact a doctor as soon as possible.
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