So you have a cataract...

An estimated 20 million people worldwide suffer with cataracts. This is not surprising, as most cataracts are age related and almost all of us will get cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. A good analogy is that of a dirty windscreen or windowpane. It is difficult to see through and similarly the cataract reduces the optical clarity of the natural lens. This reduces the clarity of your sight, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated.

A basic small incision technique would involve removing the cataract and inserting an Intra-Ocular Lens to restore focus with limited success.

The methods used to calculate the power of the replacement lens are relatively crude and can only correct a limited range of focusing errors. Common focusing errors like Astigmatism (irregular focus due to a misshapen eyeball), Presbyopia (the universal condition of needing reading glasses in the forties) and Spherical Aberration (the focusing error, which caused the problem with the Hubble Space Telescope,) cannot be corrected using these techniques. Furthermore focusing errors do not occur in isolation, it is quite common for patients to have a combination of long-sightedness or shortsightedness with Astigmatism and Presbyopia. It follows that a basic small incision surgery cannot achieve the full potential for quality vision in an eye with a cataract.

Small Incision Refractive Cataract Surgery is an advanced technique developed to enhance the ability of the surgeon to correct almost all known focusing errors. This can correct the full range of Hyperopia (long-sightedness), Myopia (shortsightedness), Astigmatism, Presbyopia and Spherical Aberration resulting in the best possible quality of vision without glasses or contact lenses.

Sophisticated technology is used to assess the focusing system of the eye prior to surgery. This includes computerised slit scan corneal topography (corneal power/shape mapping), pupillometry (pupil size), and dual linear partial coherence interferometry (the most accurate and reproducible way of measuring the length of your eye). This information is used in combination with an assessment of your visual needs and lifestyle to generate a tailor made Surgical Prescription (surgical plan). Additional surgical techniques to correct astigmatism are combined with state of the art replacement lens technology (Multifocal, Accommodative or Tecnis) to achieve the best possible functional quality of vision without glasses or contact lenses. The surgery is carried out in most cases using eye drop (topical, no needle) anaesthesia. Patients are up and about immediately after surgery and visual recovery is rapid.

You don't have to wait for your cataract to reach a particular stage of ripening any more. The ideal time to carry out refractive cataract surgery is when you as a patient feel the need to improve your sight. Refractive cataract surgery is all about improving lifestyles and if you see better you live better.

The vast majority of refractive cataract surgery patients are able to carry out most day to day activities without spectacles or contact lenses while needing spectacles for some visually demanding activities like driving, reading fine print etc. If patients have suffered from significant focusing errors all their lives these can be corrected at the same time. Such patients commonly end up seeing better without glasses than they have ever seen in their lifetime.

Like all surgery there is a small (less than 1%) risk of a complication reducing your vision to below pre-operative levels. This technique is now considered safe enough to be used in patients in their 50's who want to see better without glasses or contact lenses and have not yet developed significant cataracts.

Refractive Cataract Surgery is the current state of the art, relevant to all patients with cataracts. A cataract patient treated using this technique benefits from the best possible quality of vision with consequent quality of life benefits.

Your decision to have cataract surgery should be a positive informed decision based on an individual and accurate assessment of the potential risks and benefits.