Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens in the eye. The lens becomes yellow or opaque preventing light and images from reaching the retina. They most often influence older patients, but may appear in younger individuals as well. While the most base type of cataract is age associated trauma, oxidative stress caused by drugs, poor diet, environment, and disease or congenital issues may precipitate lens opacities in younger folks. Over the years, surgical operation to correct this base vision problem has evolved in any dramatic ways.
[b]Lens[/b]Early surgical cataract procedures complex the affected lens being removed, and the sick person had to wear very thick eye glasses in order to see. This posed any visual problems which were then best corrected with experience lenses. As time passed, the first intraocular lens implant was developed. This early lens was located in front of the iris, (colored part of the eye), and supplanted the natural lens in power to refract light on to the retina. It soon became apparent that vibrations in this implant damaged the inner most layer of the cornea called the endothelium. On chance this in turn resulted in an opaque cornea and the need for a corneal transplant.
This problem was solved by the next generation of lens implants that were located behind the iris, and were called posterior chamber implants. They were secured far sufficient away from the cornea, so that they had no impact on it. These early lens implants were fairly large, and required a large incision to take off the natural lens and implant the new one. As time progressed, Phacoimulsification became the procedure of option for cataract surgeons. This revolutionized the procedure. A small incision was required, and as a follow fewer sutures were needed. Along that time, foldable implants came along that could be inserted into the eye through that small opening.
The next big advancement was removing the cataract, and inserting the implant directly through the cornea. This coming did not want any sutures, and thus curative time was even supplementary reduced as was sick person discomfort. The nagging issue that plagued cataract surgeons was to be able to eliminate the need for eye glasses after the surgery. To that end, stronger implants have been developed, multi focal, Uv exciting Iols and many other options have been employed. Some have worked well, while others have failed. A most troublesome residual problem has been how to correct astigmatism after this surgery. At first, eye glasses had to be worn to correct the uncorrected astigmatism. Then some surgeons advocated manufacture incisions in the cornea to reduce or eliminate the astigmatism post surgically. While this therapeutic coming was fairly successful, most patients did not want an supplementary procedure if note needed.
Recently, the astigmatic problem has now been solved. The Staar Toric Iol is now available, and can correct up to 3.50 diopters of corneal astigmatism. That means that most people that have astigmatism before surgical operation can choose to have this new Iol implanted at the time of surgery, and have their astigmatism corrected resulting in no need for length eye glasses after the procedure. The implant works similarly to a toric experience lens. When seen in the eye, there are peripheral markings to value the positioning of the lens. The results thus far have been very good with only a few patients complaining about glare. These implants are not covered by most assurance clubs and there fore must be paid for by the patient.
Always ask your surgeon about the options for implants before surgical operation to see if there is something that will best suite any visual needs.
New Lens Implants Can definite Astigmatism After Cataract surgery
0 comments:
Post a Comment