Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
It is a clouding of the lens and can be caused by many factors. The most common is age related cataract that comes with aging. There are children born with cataracts. Eye injury is another common cause of cataract especially in Africa. Metabolic diseases e.g. Diabetes can also cause cataracts.
Treatment is surgery.
The clouded lens is removed and is replaced with a small highly specialized lens that is inserted in the eye.
Normal vision is possible with glasses. Two methods of cataract surgery are available:
- In the first, a 5mm incision is made and the both the cataract is removed and the lens is inserted through this incision. A suture may or may not be needed. This is the SICS method (small incision cataract surgery).
- In the second, an incision of 2mm is made and a special machine is introduced into the eye that breaks up the cataract and sucks it out. A special lens that is rolled up like a cigarette is introduced through the micro incision, which then opens up in the eye like a butterfly. The healing in the method is much faster. This method is referred to as Phacoemulsification cataract surgery. It is commonly referred to as a laser, although this not correct as no laser is used but ultrasound energy.
Both these surgical methods are available at UHEAL.You should visit an Eye Specialist once per year for routine checkup.For more information Contact Upper Hill Eye & Laser Centre (UHEAL) Nairobi Kenya or any other eye specialist near you.