What Are cataracts?

 A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. The lens is located near the front of the eye. It focuses light on the retina, at the back of the eye, to form the images we see. When the lens can become clouded, it prevents light and images from reaching the retina.

What causes cataracts?

 There are many types of cataracts. Most are caused by a change in the chemical makeup of the lens. Aging, certain medications (e.g. steroids), genetics, eye injuries, or certain diseases can cause cataracts. The normal process of aging can make the lens harden and turn cloudy. These “age-related cataracts” are the most common, and they may

occur as early as age 40. When cataracts appear in children, they may be inherited or they may have been caused by an infection or other causes before birth. These are called “congenital cataracts,” and babies have them at birth. Eye injuries, such as a hard blow, puncture, cut, intense heat, or chemical burn can damage the lens and cause “traumatic cataracts” in people of any age. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, can cause cataracts to occur at an earlier age.

How are cataracts treated?

 When a cataract reduces your vision to the point that you can’t do the things you like to do such as reading, driving, or working on the computer, it is probably time to have the cataract surgically removed. Eye drops, ointments, pills, special diets and eye exercises also don’t work. Cataracts need to be surgically removed and the old, clouded lens

replaced with a new artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). There are many types of IOL’s available and we will perform pre-operative measurements to determine which lenses are the best suited to your eye.

Cataract surgery

 Cataract operations are performed on an outpatient basis. Topical or local anesthetic is used to make the operation relatively painless. The cataract is carefully broken up and removed from the eye using very precise and delicate instruments under an operating microscope. The clear capsular bag that surrounds the lens is left behind, and the

surgeon then puts the artificial lens implant inside it. Occasionally during surgery, the delicate capsular bag that contained the cataract can tear and parts of the cataract may fall into the back of the eye. If this happens, you may need a second operation to get the rest of the cataract out. Over 95% of patients will see an improvement in their vision after cataract surgery.

Dr. Ammar Khan, MD, FRCSC, DABO
Eye Physician and Surgeon
Glaucoma Specialist

This information is intended to be for general purposes only and is not meant to replace medical advice by your physician. Please discuss with your physician for more specific information pertaining to you.