A Cataract is a clouding of the natural crystalline Lens in the human eye. This is normally an age-related phenomenon but Cataracts may occur at any age. When the Lens becomes cloudy it reduces the ability of the eye to focus light on the retina and the vision consequently becomes blurred. With modern Cataract surgery the cloudy Lens is removed using a process known as Phacoemulsification. This is a process where a high frequency ultrasound is used to break up the Lens which is then removed by suction while an infusion runs concurrently to replace the fluid removed from the eye. This procedure can be performed through a very small incision and an intra-ocular lens (i.e. IOL) of pre-determined power is inserted (usually with an injector system) to enable the eye to focus the light onto the retina. Modern intra-ocular lenses may be monofocal, multifocal or accommodative.

As modern Cataract surgery has such a high success rate (of the order of 98% or more) and is minimally invasive (with most surgeries being performed as day cases under topical anaesthesia) it is now performed at a much earlier stage in the condition than it used to be. Once the patient begins to experience visual symptoms then it is reasonable, with Phacoemulsification to consider treating the condition. The old concept of waiting for the cataract to mature is now outdated and merely extends the period of visual morbidity that the patient has to suffer as a result of the cataract.

The same technology that is used to treat cataracts may be applied to treating refractive errors that are not amenable to being treated with other techniques (such as the Excimer laser). If a patient has a refractive error that is of too great a magnitude to treat with laser then a Clear Lens Extraction with implantation of an appropriately powered IOL may be used to correct their refractive error. In addition a Presbyopic patient may be treated for their Presbyopia (and in addition any associated distance refractive error) with a Presbyopic Lens Exchange (i.e. PRELEX).

Please click on our link to Cataract surgery and corrective eye surgery (PDF file) or on any of the other links to our Eye Library for further information on the topics highlighted.

Click here to review testimonials of some of Ardfallen Eye Clinic's previous patients treated for Cataracts.

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For further information on Cataracts please refer to the following PDF download.   (Cataract Information Leaflet)

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