Lentes intraoculares: una solución permanente para las cataratas

Cataracts are opacities of the lens and the main symptom is the decrease in visual acuity , which is usually associated with photophobia and glare with the lights. The person who suffers them can show a whitish pupil, although not always, since other times they can adopt a caramel tone.

In reality, cataracts can not be prevented, since they come out spontaneously and are related to age, as well as gray hair and wrinkles. There are occasions that are produced by trauma, other times by some systemic diseases, or by treatment with certain drugs. There are also congenital cataracts , present at the time of birth, or that develop shortly after birth.

Therefore, it would be ideal to operate cataracts as soon as possible, although experts in Ophthalmology recommend that patients with cataracts do not rush, as long as the patient has good visual acuity, it can be expected. We must not forget that as in all surgeries, complications can occur.

Process of placement, risks and results of intraocular lenses

The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. It has been done for many years, but in recent times has experienced a really spectacular improvement, thanks to the arrival of intraocular lenses, which allow a good postoperative vision without the use of glasses. They are lenses that are implanted inside the eye (staying there for life) and even allow to see well without glasses from far and near.

In the past these lenses were not worn, and patients were forced to wear very thick glasses, which greatly limited the visual field and the performance of many activities.

The placement of the intraocular lenses really for an experienced surgeon is not complicated, but it must be said that it is a delicate surgery that requires special care, in addition to taking into account a series of factors, since the possible complications can be serious .

We can say that in cataract surgery it takes longer in the preparations than in the surgery itself, and it is usually between 15-20 minutes, depending among other things on the characteristics of the cataracts.. The less dense and less evolved cataracts are easier to extract, which makes surgery faster. The cataracts that take a long time, besides being more dense, are also harder, and they give rise to a more laborious and therefore longer surgery.

The results of this surgery are permanent, since the cataracts have already been extracted and they do not reproduce. But what can happen is that the lens capsule, which forms the sac where the intraocular lens is inserted, becomes opaque with time, which would result in a visual decrease. The solution for this contingency is simple, breaking said capsule with laser, the transparency is perfectly restored, and the patient sees perfectly again.