What is CATARACT?
Imagine yourself seeing a foggy, hazy glass and everything seems to be a blur. But in reality it’s a crystal clear glass and you are the only one who is seeing it differently. If this is the case, you might be having a CATARACT, a clouding of the lens that can either be caused by age, family history, diabetes, intake of steroid, or an eye injury to name a few. Sometimes, you may notice that when the sun is bright, you can't see as well. This is due to your pupil constricting, hence less light is coming through.
CATARACT is the most common cause of blindness worldwide. In the Philippines, 62% of all blindness is caused by it and found mostly in older age groups. (http://www.doh.gov.ph/national-prevention-of-blindness-program)
CAUSES OF CATARACT:
Like a camera, the eyes have lens that lies behind the iris and the pupil. It focuses light or an image on the retina and adjusts the eyes focus to make us see things clearly whether near or far. The lens is made up of protein and water. However as we age, the proteins clump together causing the lens to be clouded which now forms a cataract. Over time, the clouds may grow in size which makes light difficult to pass through it.
It is best advised to consult with an Ophthalmologist to prevent blindness as this can be treated at an early stage through surgery and implant of Intraocular Lens (IOL) to regain back a normal, clear vision.
We use the modern technique known as Phacoemulsification, a procedure wherein a oscillating tip is used to break up the lens. Depending on your needs, we may implant a Monovision, Multifocal, or Toric lens. Our well trained staff will educate you on what's best for your lifestyle, work needs. A multifocal lens can reduce your need for glasses.