Cataract Awareness Month: Cataract is a medical condition characterised by the clouding of the lenses in our eyes. However, cataracts can also occur prematurely due to eye injuries, exposure to radiation and UV rays, and diseases such as diabetes. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful medical procedures performed worldwide. Yet, despite its prevalence, there are still many myths and misconceptions surrounding cataracts and cataract surgery. Dr. Sri Ganesh, Chairman and Managing Director, Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore debunks major myths related to cataracts and cataract surgery. 

Myths About Cataracts And Cataract Surgery

Myth 1: Cataracts affect only the elderly population

Fact: While it is true that cataracts mostly affect older individuals, they can also develop at any age. Factors like genetics, medications, injuries and trauma to the eye, exposure to UV rays and diabetes can also result in the development of cataracts prematurely, in younger individuals.

Myth 2: Cataracts can be cured with medications or eye drops

Fact: Unlike other eye conditions, cataracts cannot be treated with eye drops or any other medications. The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. Phacoemulsification and laser surgery have now been accepted as the gold standard of surgical procedures for the management of cataracts.

Myth 3: Cataract surgery is painful

Fact: With the latest advancements in surgical techniques like laser-assisted minimally invasive surgery and robotic laser surgery, the procedure for cataract removal has become painless. However, in some cases, patients may experience mild to minimum discomfort briefly.

Myth 4: Cataract surgery comes along with a long recovery time

Fact: Cataract surgery has typically now become a day procedure, where patients are discharged within a few hours. One of the remarkable aspects of the surgery is its quick recovery time and hence, patients can resume normal activities, including driving, within a week.

Cataract Awareness Month (Image Credits: Canva)

Myth 5: Cataracts can recur or grow back after a successful surgery

Fact: Once a cataract has been removed surgically, it cannot grow back. However, patients may develop a condition known as Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO) in due time post-surgery, where the artificial lens becomes cloudy. PCO can be easily corrected by YAG laser capsulotomy.

Myth 6: Cataract surgeries are risky

Fact: While any surgery or surgical procedure comes with some degree of risk, cataract surgery is considered one of the safest surgical procedures performed today. With the latest devices and novel innovations, the risk of complications remains relatively low.

Myth 7: Refractive errors need correction separately after a cataract surgery

Fact: Following standard cataract surgery, patients often require corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses to fix refractive errors. However, now refractive cataract surgery, using a combination of FEMTIS MPlus IOL and automated capsulotomy through femtolaser, gives optimal visual outcomes in one surgery.

Treatment of Cataracts: The surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (intraocular lens). Phacoemulsification, introduced by Dr. Charles Kelman in 1967, is a minimally invasive surgery to remove cataracts. Phaco surgeries have now been accepted as the gold standard of surgical procedures for the management of cataracts.

Phacoemulsification employs ultrasound energy in the form of high-frequency sound waves, to emulsify the nucleus of the clouded lens into a gelatinous mass. The mass is flushed with sterile fluids (irrigation) and suctioned out of the eye with a vacuum (aspiration) with viscoelastic removal. Once the cataract is removed, vision may be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Laser cataract surgery or FLACS or robotic laser surgery is a recent development for the treatment of cataracts. It is a more precise and customised surgery. The incisions are bladeless, and the cataract is cut into small pieces with the laser and aspirated with less collateral damage to the tissue and more precise placement of the IOL (intraocular lens). Newer intraocular lenses reduce dependence on glasses and help improve quality of life.