Picture on the left shows a healthy eye, picture on the right shows an eye with cataract.
Cataract is haziness of the eye's natural lens (transparent lens inside the eye). This disease leads to the worsening of vision. It is accompanied by the loss of clearness, blurred vision of objects. Image starts to double. People with cataract see things around them like through the foggy glass.
Mostly cataract is developing slowly and at early stages doesn’t affect vision very much. In time it can lead to a serious or even full vision loss.
Early stage cataract can be handed by brighter light conditions or stronger glasses. But if it handicaps Your usual activity, You might need a cataract surgery. Fortunately, nowadays cataract surgery is a safe and efficient, and it might be performed as a same day procedure.
If cataract is located on the edge of the lens there might be no subjective visual changes. The closer haziness is to the centre of the lens the more serious visual problems there are.
If You feel that Your vision is becoming worse, if it doubles or became blurry, consult ophthalmologist.
There are no eye drops that help to get rid of cataract. The only way of treatment is operation.
Cataract may develop as a consequence of trauma, deficient nutrition of eye tissues related with age, radiation, diabetes, ocular diseases (for example glaucoma) or hereditary peculiarities of constitution, metabolic diseases.
Age Cataract happens most of all. As the result of ageing of the body, lens density increases and it becomes hazy. Such cataract can develop at the age of 50-60.
Inborn cataract is developed in childhood and is related to hereditary pathology (25-33%) or lens pathology that was developed during prenatal development of embryo.
Traumatic cataract may develop at any age. Hard strike, cut, puncture, thermic or chemical burn can cause haziness of the lens.
Diabetic cataract is developed as a complication of diabetes. It is characterized with fast development of the lens haziness in both eyes.
Factors that increase the risk of having cataract
A complex examination with high precision diagnostic equipment is offered in in St. Petersburg Branch of IRTC “Eye Microsurgery”. The following procedures are performed: refractometry and keratometry, determination of visual acuity, measuring of internal ocular pressure, examination of visual field. Endothelial cells are estimated if necessary. Considering the results of examination the optical power of the lens is estimated.
All examinations are done quickly and absolutely painlessly.
The only efficient method of cataract treatment is surgery. Neither eye drops nor other drugs DO NOT help to get rid of cataract.
Most of ophthalmologists suggest, that surgical treatment must be performed when it starts to affect Your life quality, handicaps Your work and everyday activities like reading, watching TV, using computer or driving.
Modern techniques of cataract surgery using laser or ultrasound allow to perform cataract extraction at early stages without waiting for its “ripening”. If operation is postponed then You should visit ophthalmologist more often to check visual acuity, intraocular pressure and condition of the lens, otherwise it can lead to serious complications.
Cataract surgery includes extraction of the hazy lens and its replacement with transparent artificial lens. Artificial lens is called Intraocular Lens (IOL), it is situated in the place of Your natural lens and becomes an integral part of Your eye.
Very seldom implantation of artificial lens is impossible if there are some general diseases. In such cases after cataract extraction visual acuity is corrected by glasses or contact lenses.
Cataract surgery might be performed in out-patient conditions and means that you don’t have to stay in hospital after operation.
We offer our patients most less traumatic, sutureless cataract surgery, including surgery with the help of ultrasound and laser. Extraction of hazy lens is performed with the help of a micro incision. There is no need to put a stitch after operation.
Advantages of sutureless operations:
If you lead an active way of life and appreciate your time, sutureless surgery is what You need!
Cataract surgery with femtosecond laser assistance – a new step in using robotic technique for cataract extraction and artificial lens implantation. Surgeon only sets the program for laser, which makes a hole with inconceivable precision in patients’ anterior capsule of the lens providing the following right position of the artificial lens inside the eye.
Apart from this, fragmentation of the hazy lens at the second stage of operation allows to minimize the ultrasound interference and make operation more safe.
For the first time in St. Petersburg and North-West part of Russia a new modern femtosecond laser Victus (Germany) was put into practical use in cataract surgery in IRTC “Eye Microsurgery” named after S.N. Fyodorov. For the first time in the world it became possible to perform all the stages of cataract surgery with laser radiation only due to combination of femtosecond laser and laser device for hazy lens removal created under academician S.N. Fyodorov’s guidance.
Ultrasound phacoemulsification - extraction of a hazy lens with the help of ultrasound is a golden standard for surgical treatment of cataract. Our operating room is equipped with modern phacoemulsificators by leading manufacturers of medical machinery – Alcon (USA) and Bausch&Lomb (USA), AMO. Operations are performed by high qualified ophthalmic surgeons that have the greatest experience in Russia.
Laser extraction of cataract is extraction of a hazy lens with the help of laser energy. Laser cataract extraction in St. Petersburg is performed only at Fyodorov’s Clinic and is done with the help of unique in the North-West “Rakot” complex. Neodymium Yag-laser is used to destroy the hazy lens with a unique wave length developed by a group of scientists under guidance of S.N. Fyodorov.
Laser extraction is efficient in case of old, “thick” cataracts when it is impossible to use ultrasound.
The most convenient, reliable and efficient method of eye sight recovery after cataract removal is implantation of an artificial lens (intraocular lens).
Intraocular lens is very close to the natural lens by its properties. It is very reliable and can serve the whole life.
We have a wide range of artificial lenses of Russian and Foreign manufacturers in our clinic.
Multifocal lenses (accommodative) allow you to see in the long and short distance.
Toric lens are necessary for those patients who have corneal astigmatism.
Lenses with yellow filter – protect retina from ultraviolet radiation and dangerous part of blue light.
For the best result of the operation discuss the type of the artificial lens with your ophthalmic surgeon!
Visual acuity is restored right after artificial lens implantation and full recovery can take 1 or 1,5 month time after operation. After outpatient operation You will spend 1-3 hours in hospital with medical attendance, and then You will go home. It would be better if there is someone who can help You to get home.
In case You were hospitalized, You will be checked out by recommendation of Your consulting doctor, which depends on Your eye’s condition.
1-3 days, but hospitalization time can be increased by medical indications if necessary. Usually, we suggest 1-2 consultations after operation and further follow-up is done at the place of residence. Secondary cataract
Some patients suffer from lens haziness of lens capsule and visual acuity loss in 1-2 years after cataract surgery. This is called a secondary cataract.
If You noticed vision blurring after lens implantation surgery, consult your ophthalmologist at the place of Your residence to find the reasons. In St. Petersburg Branch secondary cataract is easily treated with 1 session of special pulsed laser. Manipulation is performed out patiently and guarantees vision acuity recovery.
After operation You will be prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops using scheme of treatment Your ophthalmic surgeon recommends.
To use eye drops correctly:
During 1 moth after cataract surgery:
We wish You a fast recovery and a perfect vision for many years to come!
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