With age, the lens of the eye becomes blurred. Its onset is usually related to age, but cataracts can also develop as a result of injury, certain medications or other conditions. Cataracts affect one, but usually both eyes.
The following risk factors play a major role in its development:
A szürkehályog homályos látást okozhat, szembefénynél (pl. esti vezetéskor) problémát jelenthet a vakító fényszóródás, valamint a színek is megváltoznak, fakóbbnak tűnnek.
A szürkehályog súlyossága több tényezőtől függ, beleértve a kort és az egyéni egészségi állapotot is.
Jelenleg nem létezik bármilyen eredményes gyógyszeres megoldás a szürkehályog kezelésére és a látás helyreállítására. Az egyedüli és rendkívül hatékony megoldás a homályos szemlencse műtéti eltávolítása és műlencsével való helyettesítése. Jelenleg a világon évente több mint 30 millió műlencsét ültetnek be.
The aim of the surgery is to remove the opaque lens and implant a biocompatible (non-reactive with tissue) plastic lens into the eye, manufactured with great precision, to improve visual function and quality of life.
The surgery is usually performed under local anaesthesia, but can also be performed under general anaesthesia if necessary. The method of anaesthesia will be discussed with you beforehand. Immediately before the operation, you will be given dilating drops, or anaesthetic drops if you have a local anaesthetic. The tissues around the eye may be anaesthetised with a local anaesthetic injection.
In the case of surgery under anaesthesia, the anaesthetist will tell you how to prepare for the operation.
During the operation, you will lie on your back with your head and eyes covered and oxygen-rich air will be passed under the isolation to ensure a steady supply of oxygen. During the operation, the cataract /your own eye lens is removed microsurgically using a precise ultrasound machine. During the operation, you will see light phenomena and kaleidoscope-like movements, but you must look into the light of the microscope at all times and move your eyes only when instructed to do so by your doctor. If you feel coughing or nausea, you can signal your doctor with your hand. During the operation, a pre-selected artificial lens will be inserted, which can be either a standard single-focus lens or a premium lens of different types. Your doctor will advise you of these options in advance. At the end of the surgery, the wound will usually close without sutures, if not, sutures will be used if necessary. At the end of the operation, a bandage is applied to the eye to protect the eyeball.
An intraocular lens is a special foldable, biocompatible (tissue-friendly), optically clear plastic that is designed to be implanted in the anatomical location of the opacified lens after surgical removal. This lens, which measures just 13 mm in total and 6 mm in optical diameter, is implanted in a wound just over 2 mm in diameter.
Monofocal artificial lenses provide sharp vision at only one distance. Such lenses are usually designed for distance vision and glasses are worn for near and intermediate distances. If your doctor adjusts for near distance, you will need glasses for sharp distance vision.
If you have astigmatism, you will be fitted with monofocal toric lenses for an extra charge.
Patients who receive monofocal lenses and have their acuity adjusted for distance will almost always need to wear glasses for activities that require near vision, such as reading, using a monitor or telephone.
With trifocal lenses, spectacle independence for everyday activities can be achieved in most cases. Trifocal in-eye lenses are a premium solution for cataract or clear lens replacement surgery to provide spectacle-free sharp vision at three important distances – near for reading, intermediate for reading, and distance for monitor or dashboard use.
If you also have astigmatism, a trifocal toric lens that can correct this is the solution.
A trifocal lens is implanted in place of your own eye lens to replace its optical power. This premium lens corrects previous refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or even astigmatism and can also provide spectacle-free vision shortly after surgery in most cases.
Due to the optical design of trifocal lenses, at twilight or in the evening, you may notice circular light phenomena around point light sources (e.g. street lamps, candles, etc.), which gradually decrease over the three to six months following surgery, but do not disappear completely.
Drip the eye drops prescribed by your doctor accurately. If you feel any discomfort after the operation, you can take painkillers. If your symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor. Your vision is likely to improve immediately after surgery, in most cases it takes 4-8 weeks for the wound to heal, after which you may be prescribed the new glasses you need.
After the operation you will be given eye drops which will need to be used for several weeks, the frequency and use of these drops will be explained at your post-operative check-up. It will take 9 months for the wound to heal completely, during which time you will not be allowed to rub or wipe the eye or wipe away tears.
Some symptoms require immediate treatment. It is important to contact your doctor or other eye specialist immediately if you notice any of the following in the days following surgery:
You should rest with your eyes closed on the day of the operation, after which you can gradually increase the amount of eye use, reading and watching TV. Healing eyes need time to develop a definitive visual acuity.
Remember that if you have other conditions, such as diabetes, glaucoma or age-related fundus lesions, your vision may remain poorer after a successful operation.
The biggest benefit of the surgery is improved visual acuity and colour vision. The choice of artificial lens allows us to correct older refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism). After the operation, you may need glasses for distance and/or near vision.
You should be aware that there is a very small chance of complications both during and after the operation.
Some possible complications during surgery:
Rupture of the posterior capsule of the lens, which may prevent the implantation of the artificial lens. In this case, the artificial lens will be implanted later during another surgery.
Lens tears can cause lens fragments to enter the eye, requiring further surgery
Bleeding inside the eye.
Some possible complications after surgery:
The dioptre design of the artificial lens is not always accurate, despite the greatest care and the use of the most modern instruments. Even with the greatest care, there can be a difference of several dioptres between the planned dioptre and the post-operative result. This may be corrected by subsequent laser correction or by the implantation of lenses, the cost of which is borne by the patient.
Nowadays, complications are very rare and in most cases can be successfully treated. Significant visual impairment (1 in 1,000 cases = 0.1%) or loss of vision (about 3 in 10,000 cases = 0.03%) is extremely rare.
The most common complication is opacification of the posterior capsule. It develops months or years after surgery in the majority of cases. In this case, the posterior capsule of the lens, which remained in place during the operation and holds the artificial lens in place, becomes opaque. This causes a loss of vision that can be cured with a painless laser treatment that takes a few minutes and is ambulant.
