How are cataracts treated?
The most effective way to restore vision is to remove the cloudy cataract and replace it with a plastic lens implant (Intraocular lens or IOL). With recent advances in cataract surgery equipment and techniques, vision can be restored more safely and faster, allowing patients to resume normal activities within hours after surgery (some activities may be limited during healing). Using these state of the art techniques, cataract surgery has a success rate greater than 98%. In years past, cataract surgery was performed under general anesthesia requiring patients to stay in the hospital. Later advances used a local anesthesia (retrobulbar or peribulbar blocks) where a needle stick is made, penetrating to just behind the eyeball where the anesthetic is injected. Although this procedure allows patients to return home the same day and is safer than using general anesthesia, it is not entirely free of risk.
The most successful way for cataracts to be treated is if the cloudy lens is removed in an operation. In most cases, this is done when babies are only a few months old. In older children, some of the outer part of the lens is left after the operation. You will probably still have to wear glasses or contact lenses afterwards. In some cases, the operation could cause other problems, although these can be treated.
Cataracts are typically treated through an eye surgery procedure in which the clouded natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced by an artificial lens. This lens, called an intraocular lens, gives the eye back its focusing ability, and for many, additional corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts, are not needed. However, corrective lenses may be needed to achieve optimal vision.
Vision loss from cataracts can often be corrected with prescription glasses and contact lenses. For people who are significantly affected by cataracts, replacement surgery may be the preferred method of treatment. During cataract replacement (the most common surgical procedure in the country), the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one called an intraocular lens implant or IOL.
