Cataract Surgery in Dubai is one of the safest and most common forms of surgery that is performed. Today with the advances in technology, cataract treatment is less invasive, has a quick recovery period and enhances the quality of vision of a patient after the procedure.
Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the eye’s lens and replace it with an artificial lens in most cases. The lens of your eye would usually be transparent. A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, which affects the vision eventually.
Cataract surgery is done on an outpatient basis by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), ensuring you don’t have to stay in the hospital after the surgery. It is very normal to undergo cataract surgery and is usually a successful operation.
Statistics show that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in adults over 45years. Cataracts occur when a person’s natural lens of the eyes becomes cloudy over time. Surgery is needed to remove and replace imperfect lenses.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. At the Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center, it only takes short time to complete the treatment. If both eyes require Cataracts Dubai surgery, Dr. Hani Sakla will make arrangement to arrange the surgeries between a week or two apart.
Why is this surgery done?
Cataracts can cause blurry vision and improve the glare of lights. The doctor will recommend cataract surgery if a cataract makes it hard for you to perform your usual activities.
Cataract surgery can be recommended when a cataract interferes with the treatment of another eye condition. For example, if a cataract makes it hard for your eye doctor to examine the back of your eye to control or treat other eye issues, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, doctors may prescribe cataract surgery.
Waiting to have cataract surgery would not damage your eye in most situations, so you have time to consider your options. You may not need cataract surgery for many years if your vision is still very good.
The surgery process includes, firstly, dilating the eyes with special drops and thereafter a topical anesthesia is administered to numb the area and prepare for the surgery. Some patient’s are given a sedative in addition to the anesthesia to make the patient feel relaxed during the procedure.
There are two types of cataract surgery performed. One uses the standard incision made with a knife, while HD cataract surgery uses the femtosecond laser. Cataract surgery typically consists of two elements such as:
Removal of the cataract– The Eye Surgeon in Dubai will make a small incision in the cornea. This is done manually or by advanced imaging systems. During the laser procedure, a precise 3D map is made of the eye, which guides the laser as it makes the incision. Thereafter, once the incision has been made in the cornea, a special probe is inserted into the cataract mass. Using sound waves, the cloudy matter is broken up and the emulsified substance is then removed from the eye. The back part of the lens, called the lens capsule, and is left intact and in place to serve as a basis for a new lens.
Replacement of the lens – Once the cataract has been removed, a new lens is inserted into the eye. The lens that is fitted is a an IOL (intraocular lens) which comes in a variety of forms and materials and can be tailor-made to suit the patient’s needs.
Once the surgery is completed, patients may experience some mild discomfort and itching that may last a few days after surgery. Vision will also be blurry for a few days as the eye heals and adjusts to the new lens. The patient will need to wear an eye shield to protect the eye during the post surgery healing process. The Eye Clinic in Dubai may also prescribe eye drops to help with inflammation and to prevent post operative infections.
A follow up visit is scheduled a day after the surgery to monitor healing, thereafter the patient will need to see the surgeon a week and then a month to ensure the eye is recovering properly. Once the surgery has healed and the eye is back to normal the surgeon will check the patient’s eyesight again. Sometimes, the patient may need some form of glasses to aid vision.
Risks
Complications are rare following cataract surgery, and most can be successfully treated.
Risks from cataract surgery include:
- Inflammation
- Dislocation of artificial lens
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Secondary cataract
- Loss of vision
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Drooping eyelid
If you have another eye disorder or a significant medical condition, the chance of complications is greater. Occasionally, due to underlying eye damage from other disorders, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, cataract surgery fails to improve vision. If necessary, before making the decision to have cataract surgery, it could be helpful to consider and treat other eye conditions.
Expect your vision to begin improving just a few days after cataract surgery. As your eye recovers and adjusts, your vision can be fuzzy at first. After your surgery, colors may appear brighter because you are looking through a clean, transparent lens. Until surgery, a cataract is normally yellow- or brown-tinted, mutating the look of the shades
You will normally see your eye doctor one or two days after your surgery, the next week, and then again for healing monitoring for around a month. For a couple of days after surgery, it is common to experience scratching and mild discomfort. Stop rubbing your eye or pulling on it. On the day of the procedure, your doctor might ask you to wear an eye patch or a protective shield. Your doctor will also recommend that you wear an eye patch and a protective mask for a few days after your surgery as you sleep during the recovery period.
In order to prevent infection, reduce inflammation and manage eye pressure, your doctor can prescribe eye drops or any other medication. Sometimes, during a surgery, these drugs may be inserted into the eye. Much of the pain should vanish after a couple of days. Often, within eight weeks, full healing happens.