CATARACT OPERATIONS
CATARACT SURGERY IN MADRID, THE SOLUTION TO YOUR VISION PROBLEMS
WHAT ARE CATARACTS?
The crystalline is a small natural lens, located behind the iris, which we have inside the eye. It is rounded, avascular and transparent.
Under normal conditions the lens is transparent, any congenital opacity (developed from birth) or acquired in the capsule or lens content is what we call cataract.
The cataract is the total or partial opacification of the crystalline lens, a natural lens that we have inside the eye. Age-associated cataract develops progressively, resulting in bilateral, asymmetric and progressive vision loss. It can also improve the near vision of the affected person.
This process causes a blurring of the light in the retina, so that the patient suffers a progressive worsening of his visual quality that, if not treated, can end in partial or total blindness.
The cataract associated with age develops progressively, and produces bilateral, asymmetric and progressive loss of vision. It can also improve the short-range vision of the affected person.
SYMPTOMS OF CATARACTS
- Blurred vision: means the patient cannot see well, affecting their daily life.
- Vision improvement: the patient may realize that their short-range vision has improves, which may mean that the cataract is forming.
- Glare: a patient with cataracts has greater sensitivity to light.
- Loss of sharpness/colours.
TYPES OF CATARACTS
- Nuclear Cataract: the most common, develops in the centre of the lens and is usually associated with old age.
- Subcapsular Cataract: the most common in diabetic people, and is characterised by developing in the posterior part of the lens.
- Cortical Cataract: also related to old age, develops on the sides of the lens.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF A CATARACT OPERATION?
The most frequent cause of cataract development is age, although there are also other important causes, such as trauma, or some drugs and diseases.
This loss of vision is reversible thanks to a fast, painless and highly effective surgical treatment that we will explain below.
DIAGNOSIS OF CATARACTS
As in all pathologies, early diagnosis of cataract is very important, since the patient will gradually lose vision without hardly realizing it.
Diagnosis is a simple eye exam. However, in most cataract diagnoses the loss of vision is already very advanced and therefore the patient is likely to have had poor visual quality for many years.
Cataracts are diagnosed by a simple eye exam.
CATARACT TREATMENT
At clinic Martínez de Carneros we use two techniques to eliminate cataract: facoemulsification technique or femtosecond laser technique:
Phacoemulsification technique:
In the Phacoemulsification technique, the surgeon performs a 2.0 mm microincision to access the inside of the eye. Then, the capsulorhexis is performed, a circular opening of the capsule containing the crystalline, which allows access to the cataract.
It is fractured manually and with the help of ultrasound, and then suctioned.
This is an outpatient operation performed under topical anesthesia and sedation.
Femtosecond laser technique:
This surgery can be performed with the new femtosecond laser. This laser assists cataract surgery by making the incision, capsulorhexis (improving the centering of the intraocular lens and minimizing risks), fragmentation and cataract crushing.
Since the lens functions as a natural lens within the eye, we have to replace its refractive capacity with an artificial intraocular lens when removing it. The choice of this lens will depend on our visual ability and our expectation of dependence on glasses after surgery.
WHEN TO OPERATE THE CATARACTS?
The first step is to perform a series of tests to assess the condition of the cataract and evaluate the timing of surgery, as well as a complete exploration of the eyeball, which includes a study of your retina.
All this gives us the necessary information prior to surgery, in order to be able to perform a cataract intervention adapted to each case.
The surgeon will evaluate the tests performed and guide you about the surgery to be performed, in addition to the intraocular lens to be implanted recommended.
Also in the area of patient care we will inform you about the instructions prior to surgery, as well as about the preoperative treatment to follow.
HOW'S THE LASER CATARACT OPERATION?
It is a precise laser that accompanies and assists the surgeon during the intervention of cataracts , achieves greater safety and precision during surgery. This laser technology is also used in the refractive surgery .
The femtosecond laser performs the surgical planning, previously designed by the surgeon, which includes incisions and capsulorhexis (cataract fragmentation and cataract removal).
This is an advanced technique that provides precision, safety and speed in cataract surgery . Its introduction represents a revolution in the surgical procedure, as it modifies and provides significant advantages over the technique of phacoemulsification using ultrasound.
- Duration: the duration of the cataracts operation can last an average of 10-20 minutes.
- Recovery: you recover very fast after having cataract surgery.
- Care instructions after the operation:
- Do not exert yourself physically.
- Do not make sudden movements.
- Do not sleep on the side of the eye that has been operated on.
- Follow the treatment indicated by the ophthalmologist for specific eye drops.
- Protect your eyes when you go outside by wearing sunglasses.
WHAT TYPES OF INTRAOCULAR LENSES EXIST TO OPERATE ON CATARACTS?
- Monofocal lens: They allow a distant visual perception of high quality. No halos or glare at night. There is a dependence on glasses for medium and close distances.
- Bifocal or multifocal lens: There are two types of bifocal lenses that combine visual perception at two distances. On the one hand there are lenses for distances far-intermediate (computer, GPS) and others indicated for distances far-far (reading, crafts, etc.). The vast majority of people using these premium lenses get almost complete independence from glasses, having to use them only as a support for those distances not covered by the lens.
- Trifocal lens: This type of lens allows the liberation of the use of glasses in the three distances (far-intermediate-near). It is the lens with the most advantages in the market, which is why at the Martínez de Carneros Ophthalmological Clinic we are pioneers in the performance of premium cataract surgeries (with implantation of multifocal lenses).
- Toric lenses: These lenses are capable of eliminating refractive defects such as astigmatism. Custom manufactured, this lens needs to be placed on the axis determined for each person. Acrylic and hydrophobic materials are the most commonly used in the manufacture of this type of lens, as their biocompatibility has been demonstrated.
HOW MUCH DOES A CATARACT OPERATION COST?
Depending on the case of each patient the price of the cataract surgery will vary. Do not hesitate to contact our medical team to discuss your case. Request an appointment or call us on 915778800.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CATARACT SURGERY
The patient will recover vision from the first moment after surgery, however, the recovery of visual quality will improve as the days go by.
In the clinic we have two techniques for the operation of cataracts: Facoemulsification technique or femtosecond laser technique.
The ophthalmologist will evaluate your case by carrying out some tests and thus evaluate the opportune moment to proceed with the surgery.
No, this is an outpatient operation and is performed under topical anesthesia and sedation.
By replacing the natural crystalline lens with an intraocular lens, other refractive problems such as myopia, astigmatism, etc. can be corrected. There are monofocal lenses (good distant vision), bifocal lenses (good distant and intermediate vision) and trifocal lenses (they are the most advanced lenses of the moment and cover distant, intermediate and near vision).
No, however, it may happen that the capsule containing the lens may, over time, become fibrous, clouding the patient’s vision. To recover the visual quality again a technique called “Capsulotomy” is used.
Yes, cataract surgery can be performed using the Femtosecond laser, which assists the surgeon with greater precision.
