Cataracts – Clear the Haze
Cataracts cause blurred vision. This is because a cataract is haziness of the natural lens inside the eye. Cataracts usually occur with age and everyone will get a cataract if they live long enough. Sometimes cataracts occur earlier and may be due to trauma or medication. The treatment for a cataract is an operation. The surgery is a day procedure and Dr McLean operates at both the Mater Hospital and the Friendlies Society Private Hospital. Prior to surgery, measurements need to be made to determine what sort of lens implant is required.
Dr McLean and Leading Edge Technology
Dr McLean was most recently the first surgeon in QLD north of the Brisbane river to perform cataract surgery using the Clareon AutonoMe delivery system. She has the most experience to date with this first and only automated, preloaded IOL delivery system. Dr McLean has presented her techniques and knowledge on cataract surgery on several occasions, to an audience of specialists from all around Australia.
What are the symptoms of a cataract?
The symptoms of a cataract include constant blurred vision, issues with glare such as headlights, difficulty with reading or finding that your glasses need updating more frequently.
How is a cataract diagnosed?
A cataract is diagnosed on a dilated eye examination. A thorough examination is made of the front and back parts of the eye to check if there is any other cause for the reduced vision.
What is the treatment of cataracts?
In the early stages of a cataract the treatment may be a change in glasses. Eventually cataracts require surgery. The operation involves removing the cataract and replacing it with an artificial lens inside the eye. This new lens is known as an intraocular lens implant.
What technology is used in the treatment of cataract?
The preoperative assessment is most important to check for other eye conditions and to determine the right lens implant for each person. This includes a comprehensive scan of the macula with OCT Zeiss 500 and often a scan of the cornea with the Atlas. The measurements for the lens implant are obtained with the IOLmaster 700.
What are the types of implants?
There are two main groups of lens implants, which are standard and premium lenses. The standard lens implant usually has a target of distance vision or near vision but not both. The premium lenses give people both distance and near vision. The premium lenses are referred to as multifocal lens implants or extended depth of focus lens implants.
How long will the lens implant last?
The lens implants are made of acrylic and are used in children to last their lifetime.
Will I still need glasses?
The clearest vision is always with glasses. Many people are quite happy with their vision without glasses following cataract surgery. The need for glasses after cataract surgery depends on the type of lens implant and a person’s individual needs.
For More Information
For further clarification, you may find useful information within the Cataract Surgery Design Web Site and the Cataracts Explained Web Site. Although not based in Australia, this site contains information about the five stages of cataract progression, visual examples for each stage, as well as interesting information about refractive design. Of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the team at the Bundaberg Eye Clinic.
Click here to download a cataract surgery information leaflet.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology website also contains further useful information on cataract surgery.
