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Cataract Surgery – Common Medical Tourism Procedures

Cataract-Surgery.

Definition:

Cataract refers to cloudiness of the lens in the eye affecting the normal vision of a person. Cataract surgery is a procedure that is performed to restore clear vision, by removing the clouded lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens (Intra ocular lens). The artificial lens is made up of plastic, silicone or acrylic and functions in a manner similar to the eye’s natural lens.

Why it is needed:

Cataract surgery is generally advised to restore the vision of a person experiencing vision problem due to cataract. The causes of cataract include:

  • Age – most  people start developing cataract after the age of 40.
  • Exposure to ultraviolet light.
  • Trauma to the eye.
  • Systemic diseases like diabetes and hypothyroidism.
  • Eye surgeries, chronic inflammation, and extreme nearsightedness.
  • Congenital cataracts

Common Cataract Symptoms:

  • Cloudy or blurry vision.
  • Colours seem faded.
  • Glare, headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright.
  • Poor night vision
  • Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
  • Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Facts and Figures:

  • Cataract is a leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 55 or more
  • It is estimated that half of the human population suffers from cataract when they reach to age 65 and at the age of 75 almost everyone has a cataract.
  • According to WHO data, cataracts were responsible for 50% of cases of blindness around the world in the year 1997. A recent study suggests that 1.2% of the general population of Africa is blind, among them 36% of the cases of blindness are caused by cataract.
  • The description of cataract surgery is mentioned in the ‘Sushruta Samhita’, a book written by an India physician, Sushruta in the 6th century BC.
  • Dr. Jacques Daviel  was the first surgeon to perform the extracapsular extraction of a cataract 1753.
  • The Phacoemulsification type of cataract surgery was introduced by Dr. Charles Kelman in 1967.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • Excellent surgery results in most patients; in approximately 90% of cases patients have regained improved vision.
  • The surgery involves low risk and minimal pain. Severe complications are extremely rare.
  • Short recovery time.
  • No need for general anaesthesia. The surgery is performed using anaesthetic eye drops and sedation.
  • No hospitalization. Patients may resume daily activities soon after the surgery.

Disadvantages:

  • Additional surgery required in some cases

Risks and Complications:

  • Reaction to medication
  • Infection
  • Incomplete lens removal
  • Vision problems

Pre-operative and post-operative care:

Pre-operative preparation:

  • Complete eye examination and eye test by ophthalmologist.
  • Visit to a surgeon; inform him/her of any previous eye surgery or any treatment related to eye disease. Obtain a list of medication that you need to start taking and any that you need to discontinue.
  • Inform the surgeon about any allergies as well as smoking and alcohol consumption patterns.
  •  Put eye drops regularly  before surgery as prescribed by the doctor
  • Arrangement for leave from work, help at home, help with driving and post surgery care.
  • Medical tourists are advised to select a comfortable hotel room equipped with handicapped facilities, for recovery after hospital discharge.

Post-operative care:

  • After the procedure patients may experience  a foreign body sensation which should disappear after a while.
  • Some ophthalmologist put a patch over the operated eye which will be removed a day after the procedure.
  • Patients are advised to wear dark glasses while outdoors. The eye drops needs to be administered regularly as per doctor’s instructions, to ensure healing and a positive outcome to the procedure.

Do’s, Don’ts and Precautions:

  • Do wash hands before touching the eyes.
  • Don’t rub eyes.
  • Do resume light activity within a day after the procedure.
  • Don’t drive before getting approval from doctor.
  • Avoid eye makeup for at least 2 weeks.
  • Avoid eyes getting in contact with soap or water for a week.
  • Avoid strenuous activity for 10 weeks.
  • Avoid hot tubs for 6-8 weeks.

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