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Cataracts

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts occur when a cloudiness or opacity appears in the crystalline lens of the eye (the eye’s natural lens that serves to focus and is clear and transparent), making vision difficult.

Cataracts are usually caused by ocular aging and appear progressively, diminishing vision.

The only alternative to treat cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery should be performed as soon as possible, that is, as soon as the patient begins to detect a progressive deterioration of his or her vision.

Symptoms

One of the clearest symptoms of cataracts is the loss of visual acuity due to the aging of the eye with age. Thus, the patient presenting this pathology:

  • Blurred vision in one or both eyes
  • Sees worse in low light conditions
  • Perceives colors as less sharp and faded
  • Has difficulty driving at night, reading, etc.
  • Its crystalline lens gradually becomes opaque and loses its transparency.

This surgical procedure lasts approximately ten minutes and the patient recovers quickly.

Indicated treatment

At present, cataract surgery by phacoemulsification is the most effective and widely used method to eliminate cataracts definitively and restore vision.

It consists of the use of ultrasound or laser to dissolve and remove the deteriorated crystalline lens, to replace it with an intraocular lens that performs its function.

With cataract surgery, vision returns to normal and clear. The ophthalmologist will advise the cataract patient to decide what type of intraocular lens will be inserted during surgery to replace the damaged lens:

  • Monofocal lenses: correct for distance vision
  • Multifocal intraocular lenses: allow correction of distance and near vision.
  • Trifocal intraocular lenses: they allow correction at near and far distances, but also at medium distances.

Results

After cataract surgery, the patient will obtain:

  • Excellent vision, both near and far vision
  • Colors and objects will be restored to sharpness.

Cataract surgery is a fast and effective operation that provides the best short-term results. In addition, it also treats ocular aging (myopia, hyperopia or presbyopia).

Specialists

Dra. Gala León

Dr. Fco Javier Blanes Mompó

Dr. Konrad Schargel

Dr. José I. Belda

Dr. Enrique Chipont

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Our specialties

Astigmatism

Cataracts

Hyperopia

Macular degeneration

Diabetic Eye disease

Blocked tear duct

Strabismus

Glaucoma

Amblyopia or Lazy eye

Myopia

Presbyopia