Cataract

Cataract is called the clouding of the lens of the eye. It is manifested in the context of normal aging of the organization, but it can also be caused by diseases or injuries, whereas rarely can it be present at birth (congenital cataracts). It is not treated or prevented by drugs, and the only mode of treatment is to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial.

The physical lens of the eye is located behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), in a transparent bag which is called capsule.

The cataract surgery until today

The technique of cataract removal has gone through many stages of evolution.

Initially during surgery the lens was removed together with the capsule. This method is calledintracapsular, and included large surgical incisions, stitches and was accompanied by high rates of complications. By means of the following method the extracapsular, it was attempted to maintain the capsule by removing the entire lens through a large surgical incision (10-12mm), which needed also stitches.

An actual revolution was caused by phacoemulsification, a method slightly traumatic for the eye, where through two incisions less than 2-3mm, using the appropriate tools, the surgeon optometrist creates a cyclic opening on the front capsule (capsule-rupture) and using ultrasonic as well as a special pump, he fragments and aspirates the cloudy lens leaving the capsule "empty" and ready to accept the special manufactured artificial lens. The great advantages of phacoemulsification include absence of stitches and a short recovery time.

The new era in cataract surgery starts in Athens Eye Hospital

Despite its advantages, the phacoemulsification technique remains a difficult method, requiring great skill and expertise from the surgeon. The cataract surgery is not just removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial one. It is a complex process and many factors must be taken into account if we are to achieve optimal vision.

In Athens Eye Hospital an extensive preoperative examination is carried out, which determines the type and all parameters of the operation. So each cataract surgery is unique and adapted specifically to the particular patient.

The preoperative examination includes:

• Measurement of corneal endothelial cells to determine the type of surgery.
• Corneal topography, to calculate the optimal position of the surgical incisions to prevent postoperative astigmatism.
• Optical tomography of macula lutea in order to find underlying diseases and predict vision that is to be achieved postoperatively.
• Measurement of the axial length of the eye in two ways, both by classical biometry ultrasound, and the new ultramodern -laser biometrics method, for calculating the power of the artificial lens.

The cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia with drops and it takes only a few minutes.

The surgeons of Athens Eye Hospital are certain of the most skilled and experienced doctors internationally, having performed thousands of procedures in ophthalmic centers in Greece and abroad with higher success rates and patient satisfaction.

The artificial lenses (Intraocular lenses) to be placed are of top quality and after surgery not only the refractive errors, such as myopia or astigmatism, are treated  but also presbyopia.

Breakthrough LASER technology  in cataract surgery, only in Athens Eye Hospital

Athens Eye Hospital is a world leader in the use of technology in Femtosecond LASER within the most critical stages of a cataract surgery.

The incisions in the cornea, the capsule rupture and fragmentation of the cloudy lens are performed by a special laser, ensuring thus maximum precision, safety, limiting the surgery period.

The incisions are ideally placed to remove any astigmatism, and their size can be reduced up to 1 mm, resulting in rapid closure after surgery.

The capsule rupture(namely the opening on the capsule for suctioning the cloudy lens) is ideally placed in the centre. having each time the perfect cyclic scheme, something that may not be easily achieved by human hand.

The fragmentation of the lens is automatically performed and in the least intrusive way for the eye, preparing, in the most excellent manner, the conditions for the surgeon to proceed with the phacoemulsification and aspiration of the pieces of the lens.

When your time for cataract surgery comes, trust your eyesight to Athens Eye Hospital.

The most advanced technology in the hands of the most experienced surgeons.