Cataract

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens behind the pupil. When the lens becomes cloudy, light cannot reach the retina properly and vision becomes blurred. It typically develops from the age of 60–70 but can occur at any age, and there is rarely any cause other than age.

Typical symptoms

• Blurred vision at distance and near
• Change in glasses prescription
• Glare from sunlight, lamps and oncoming cars at night
• Colours look yellowish and blue tones are hard to tell apart
• Double vision that does not go away when you close one eye

When should you have surgery?

In the past, surgeons waited until the cataract was "ripe". Today we operate when the expected gain in vision is reasonable compared with the risk. A cataract is not dangerous to the eye, so surgery is only recommended when your vision bothers you. At the examination we assess whether your symptoms are caused by the cataract, whether there are other eye diseases, and how much you can expect to gain from surgery.

How the operation is done

The cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a new, clear artificial lens. The lens nucleus is broken up with ultrasound and removed through an incision of only 2.2 mm. The incision seals itself without stitches, which means less strain, lower risk, faster healing and often good vision with limited need for glasses.

Your treatment step by step

1. Pre-operative examinationWe measure your eye and calculate the right artificial lens. Dates for surgery and follow-up are arranged.
2. The day beforeShower and wash your hair and face, and remove make-up around your eyes. Start the eye drops in the eye that is to be operated on.
3. The day of surgeryNo make-up. Take your usual medicines as normal. Arrange transport, as you must not drive. You can have a calming tablet.
4. Home the same dayNo eye patch. You may wear your usual glasses.
5. Follow-up3–6 days after each operation. The second eye is usually operated on 1–2 weeks after the first.

Eye drops

You receive an electronic prescription for two kinds of drops: an NSAID drop that reduces inflammation and has a mild numbing effect, and a corticosteroid drop that reduces inflammation. Both are used 3 times a day in the operated eye from the day before surgery, on the morning of the operation and for 3 weeks afterwards. Collect a new supply for each operation.

After the operation

Results and risks

Most people have good vision after the operation. If the cataract is the only problem, vision can become normal or better than before, and many people only need reading glasses. The result depends on whether the eye has other diseases, such as AMD or glaucoma.

Serious, sight-threatening complications occur in less than 1%. These include infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, swelling of the retina, inflammation of the iris, raised eye pressure, or damage to the optic nerve or cornea. Rarely, the lens capsule tears, which may require another operation. The risk is higher if the eye has other diseases.

Glasses afterwards

Your old glasses will usually no longer fit, and most everyday tasks can be done without glasses. For reading we recommend over-the-counter reading glasses of +1.5 or +2.0. If you need new prescription glasses, wait at least 1 month after your last operation before seeing an optician.