Cataracts are usually due to ageing, but can be caused by

• - Damage to the eye from mechanical, chemical or electromagnetic radiation
• - Systemic disease
• - Incorrect development of the lens in utero leading to congenital cataract
• - Inherited disorders

However by far the most common cause is simply time / aging.

Symptoms of CATARACTS

As a cataract progresses, the following may occur:

• - Cloudy or hazy vision
• - Decreased night vision
• - Sensitivity to light
• - Intolerance to glare
• - Deterioration of far and near vision
• - Stronger lens prescriptions for glasses no longer correct vision

Save Sight Centre has proved as one of the best eye specialty hospitals and has a track record of nearly a decade, creating millions of patients through super specialty eye hospital located in Delhi. Always at the cutting edge of technology, the institution has several credits in the field of Ophthalmology in the country. Our vision is to be an Eyecare Centre par Excellence constantly striving to be a frontrunner. Save Sight Centre provides the best treatment in the state attracting a large number of patients to avail quality eye care at an affordable cost.

Save Sight Centre is a renowned eye hospital that offers the best eye care in Delhi. Our cataract surgery department specializes in providing cost-effective treatment for all types of cataract-related conditions and causes. The hospital is structured according to international standards and owns the latest technologies required for cataract operations. Our team of cataract specialists, nurses, and surgeons always make sure that patients are provided with complete care and support for fast recovery.

Cataract procedures have the potential to greatly improve the quality of life so it is important not to delay having the operation for inappropriate reasons. Nobody should delay surgery because of fear of the operation or because they have heard stories from friends which disturb them.

The sort of comments people make which lead them to have cataract surgery include:

• - I am afraid of going to unfamiliar places because I worry that I may have a fall.
• - I have stopped driving at night because the lights worry me.
• - My eyesight bothers me a lot.
• - I am having difficulty playing sport (eg golf).
• - I am having problems reading and sewing.

The cost of Cataract Surgery at Save Sight Centre is determined depending upon the age of the person, the intraocular lens was chosen as well as the previous history of eye procedures. Though Depending upon these factors, cataract surgery costs are affordable.

Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye and, in most cases, replace it with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is used to treat the clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye (cataract).
Cataract surgery is performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) on an outpatient basis, which means you don't have to stay in the hospital after the surgery. Cataract surgery is very common and is generally a safe procedure.

Cataract surgery is performed to treat cataracts. Cataracts can cause blurry vision and increase the glare from lights. If a cataract makes it difficult for you to carry out your normal activities, your doctor may suggest cataract surgery. When a cataract interferes with the treatment of another eye problem, cataract surgery may be recommended. For example, doctors may recommend cataract surgery if a cataract makes it difficult for your eye doctor to examine the back of your eye to monitor or treat other eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

In most cases, waiting to have cataract surgery won't harm your eye, so you have time to consider your options. If your vision is still quite good, you may not need cataract surgery for many years, if ever. When considering cataract surgery, keep these questions in mind:

• - Can you see to safely do your job and to drive ?
• - Do you have problems reading or watching television ?
• - Is it difficult to cook, shop, do yardwork, climb stairs or take medications ?
• - Do vision problems affect your level of independence ?
• - Do you have difficulty seeing faces clearly ?
• - Do bright lights make it more difficult to see ?

Zepto cataract surgery, Femto laser cataract Surgery, Micro Incision Cataract Surgery

• - Zepto Cataract surgery  Zepto Cataract surgery is the latest advancement in automated cataract surgery. “Zepto Capsulotomy Device” was developed around a decade ago. The device is disposable, handheld, and attached to a state-of-the-art console. It is made of Nitinol alloy, which can be inserted through an almost 2mm incision of the cornea. It uses a built-in vacuum and fast, low-energy pulses of direct current to perform a perfectly centred and circular capsulotomy, each time.
• - Femtolaser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS)  Femtolaser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) is a type of bladeless cataract surgery in which corneal incisions are made by the laser, the bag of the lens is also opened up with the help of the laser only and then the lens is fragmented into pieces by it which is then easily removed from the eye. It is comparatively more precise than manual cataract surgery.
• - Micro Incision Cataract Surgery In Micro Incision Cataract Surgery, a small incision (1.8-2.2mm) is made in the cornea and the natural lens is broken into small particles by an ultrasonic machine (Phaco machine) and is removed from the eye. This procedure is mainly surgeon dependant and requires good skills and expertise.

Complications after cataract surgery are uncommon, and most can be treated successfully. Cataract surgery risks include:

• - Inflammation
• - Infection
• - Bleeding
• - Swelling
• - Retinal detachment
• - Glaucoma
• - Secondary cataract
• - Loss of vision

Your risk of complications is greater if you have another eye disease or a serious medical condition affecting any part of your body. Occasionally, cataract surgery fails to improve vision because of underlying eye damage from other conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. If possible, it may be beneficial to evaluate and treat other eye problems before making the decision to have cataract surgery.

To prepare for your cataract surgery, you may be asked to:

• - Undergo tests. A week or so before your surgery, your doctor performs a painless ultrasound test to measure the size and shape of your eye. This helps determine the right type of lens implant (intraocular lens, or IOL).
• - Stop taking certain medications. Your doctor may advise you to temporarily stop taking any medication that could increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure.
• - Use eyedrops to reduce infection risk. Antibiotic eyedrops may be prescribed for use one or two days before the surgery.
• - Prepare for your recovery. Normally you can go home on the same day as your surgery, but you won't be able to drive, so arrange for a ride home. Also arrange for help around home, if necessary, because your doctor may limit activities, such as bending and lifting, for about a week after your surgery.

Understanding cataract surgery will help you feel more confident about your decision. Here are some facts about cataract surgery:

• - A cataract needs to be removed when it affects your everyday activities, like driving, reading, or watching TV.
• - Cataract removal is one of the most common and safest operations performed in India.
• - After the cloudy lens is removed, your doctor will replace it with a new, clear intraocular lens.
• - Although you cannot feel or see your new lens, it will help improve your vision.

Cataract surgery, usually an outpatient procedure, takes an hour or less to perform.
First, your doctor will place eyedrops in your eye to dilate your pupil. You'll receive eye drops  to numb the area, and you may be given a sedative to help you relax.
During cataract surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and a clear artificial lens is usually implanted. In some cases, however, a cataract may be removed without implanting an artificial lens.
Surgical methods used to remove cataracts include:

• - Using an ultrasound probe to break up the lens for removal. During a procedure called Phacoemulsification (fak-o-e-mul-sih-fih-KAY-shun), your surgeon makes a tiny incision in the front of your eye (cornea) and inserts a needle-thin probe into the lens substance where the cataract has formed.Your surgeon then uses the probe, which transmits ultrasound waves, to break up (emulsify) the cataract and suction out the fragments.
  The very back of your lens (the lens capsule) is left intact to serve as a place for the artificial lens to rest.

• - Making an incision in the eye and removing the lens. A less frequently used procedure called extracapsular cataract extraction requires a larger incision than that used for phacoemulsification.Through this larger incision your surgeon uses surgical tools to remove the front capsule of the lens and the cloudy portion of your lens comprising the cataract.
  The very back capsule of your lens is left in place to serve as a place for the artificial lens to rest.
  This procedure may be performed if you have certain eye complications. With its larger incision, stitches are required to close the incision.

• - Once the cataract has been removed by either phacoemulsification or extracapsular extraction, a clear artificial lens is implanted into the empty lens capsule.

This implant, known as an intraocular lens (IOL), is made of plastic, acrylic or silicone. You won't be able to see or feel the lens. It requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye.
A variety of IOLs with different features are available. Some IOLs are rigid plastic and implanted through an incision that requires several stitches (sutures) to close.

However, many IOLs are flexible, allowing a smaller incision that requires few or no stitches. The surgeon folds this type of lens and inserts it into the empty capsule where the natural lens used to be. Once inside the eye, the folded IOL unfolds, filling the empty capsule.

Some types of IOLs block ultraviolet light. Some types of IOLs work like bifocals to provide both near and distant vision. Others provide only distant or near vision. For some people, a lens can be chosen to provide distant vision for one eye and near vision for the other eye.

Discuss the benefits and risks of the different types of IOLs with your eye surgeon to determine what's best for you.

An intraocular lens (IOL) implant is a tiny, synthetic lens made of plastic, silicone, or acrylic that is used to replace the cataractous lens.

• - Non-foldable Lenses (IOL): – Are made of a hard plastic material (PMMA), are bigger in size & bigger incisions need to be made to insert them. These are the basic and the most initial IOL developed. As these IOLs cannot be folded so an incision (cut) as big as the IOL is mandatory for implantation in the eye.
• - Foldable Lenses (IOL): – These are made of a soft acrylic material that can be folded or rolled to be injected through a very small incision into the eye. Once inserted at the right place, the IOL unfolds and stabilizes in the eye to give a lifetime of clear vision.

After cataract surgery, expect your vision to begin improving within a few days. Your vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals and adjusts.

You'll usually see your eye doctor a day or two after your surgery, the following week, and then again after about a month to monitor healing.

It's normal to feel itching and mild discomfort for a couple of days after surgery. Avoid rubbing or pushing on your eye. Your doctor may ask you to wear an eye patch or protective shield the day of surgery. Your doctor may also recommend wearing the eye patch for a few days after your surgery and the protective shield when you sleep during the recovery period.

Your doctor may prescribe eyedrops or other medication to prevent infection, reduce inflammation and control eye pressure. After a couple of days, most of the discomfort should disappear. Often, complete healing occurs within eight weeks.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• - Vision loss
• - Pain that persists despite the use of over-the-counter pain medications
• - Increased eye redness
• - Light flashes or multiple new spots (floaters) in front of your eye
• - Nausea, vomiting or excessive coughing

Most people need glasses, at least some of the time, after cataract surgery. Your doctor will let you know when your eyes have healed enough for you to get a final prescription for eyeglasses.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, your doctor usually schedules a second surgery a month or two later to remove the cataract in your other eye. This allows time for the first eye to heal before the second eye surgery takes place.

Toric lens

Patients with cataracts and pre-existing cornea astigmatism are candidates for a toric aspheric IOL. When a patient with astigmatism has cataract surgery with a traditional monofocal intraocular lens, they will still have blur and distortion when they are not wearing their glasses due to their astigmatism. Toric iols can provide clear uncorrected distance vision. Currently, toric iols do not correct for presbyopia, so glasses will still be needed for close work.

Premium lens

The artificial lenss implanted in the eye during cataract surgery, known as intraocular lenss (IOLs), were once only able to correct distance vision, leaving patients dependent on eyeglasses for near vision. New advances in technology have allowed for the development of specialized, premium IOLs. With premium IOL implantation, many patients are able to eliminate or significantly reduce their dependence on eyeglasses after surgery.

There are several different types of premium lens implants available for cataract patients. Currently, the lenss we offer are TECNIS® multifocal, ReSTOR® multifocal and Cyrstalens® accommodating IOL. Each lens offers its own advantages and we would be happy to discuss these options during your visit