Cataract
What is cataract?
Cataract is a clouding of your natural ocular lens. Normally, the lens ensures that a sharp image is projected onto the back of your retina. This gives you sharp vision. If you have cataract, the lens becomes cloudy and your vision is blurry. Cataract occurs most often in people aged over 60, but it can also happen earlier and can develop over months or years.
Symptoms of cataract
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Changing vision after the age of 60 (e.g. the ability to read again without glasses)
Treatment of cataract
The only solution for cataract is an operation in which the natural cloudy lens is replaced by a clear artificial lens. We can carry out this operation under local anaesthesia. There are various techniques to remove the cloudy lens.
A cataract operation with lens replacement is the most common operation in Europe. The entire procedure takes less than a quarter of an hour. We use the latest and most advanced instruments for the procedure to guarantee optimal results. The incisions are so small (less than 3mm) that no stitches are needed.
Phaco-emulsification
Via a small incision, a hollow probe is introduced that vibrates at high speed. The lens with the cataract is broken down into tiny pieces, which are then sucked out through the probe. The rear part of the capsular bag remains intact in order to support the new implanted lens.
Inserting the lens implant
Via the same incision, a folded lens implant is inserted and placed in the empty lens capsular bag.
New, clear lens
Once the new, clear artificial lens is in place, the probe is removed. Because the incision is so small, no stitches are needed.
In-depth examination and the right lens implants for you
A good, thorough examination of your eyes is important for the right treatment and choice of lens implants. This preliminary test takes just over two hours and we recommend that someone comes with you since we might be dilating your pupils with eye drops.
Based on the results of the examination and your own expectations and life situation, we will determine the most suitable lens implants. Our doctors can implant every type of lens:
- Standard, monofocal lens
A monofocal lens implant corrects most of your farsightedness. After the operation, most patients can function without distance glasses. For distances closer than 1.5m (reading, crafts, cooking, eating, prices in the shops, mobile phone, car dashboard, etc.), you will still need glasses.
- Comfort lens
The comfort lens implant ensures sharp vision at both long and intermediate distances and is ideal for daily tasks such as cooking and shopping. For fine details however, like small print, light prescription glasses are still needed.
- Multifocal lens
These lenses are designed to provide clear vision at multiple distances. They reduce or eliminate the need for glasses for reading or other activities at different distances, and this for the rest of your life. Some patients need time for adjustment to get used to these new multifocal lenses, as the brain has to get used to the new situation. You also need sufficient light to see well with these lenses.
- Toric lens
If you have irregularities in the cornea (astigmatism, sphericity, etc.), these can be compensated for with a toric lens implant. Both monofocal and multifocal lenses are available in this form.
How much does a cataract treatment cost?
During the preliminary examination, we explain the costs of your specific treatment. The cost of a cataract operation depends on the choice of lens. This treatment is partially covered by medical insurance.
During the consultation, we give you all the necessary information about a cataract operation, how you have to prepare for it and what aftercare is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cataract and is it the same as "staar"?
That’s right, cataract and “staar” (the Dutch term) refer to exactly the same condition. It involves a clouding of your own eye lens, which makes your vision hazier. Although the condition mainly affects people over sixty, it can appear earlier in those who have diabetes or take certain medication.
What are the first symptoms of a cataract?
The most characteristic sign of a cataract is blurred vision, comparable to glasses you can’t get clean. In addition, patients experience glare in bright light, and double vision can occur in one eye. A remarkable sign is when, after the age of sixty, you can suddenly read again without reading glasses — this often means a cataract is developing.
Can a cataract be treated without surgery?
Unfortunately not. Drops or medication cannot stop or reverse a cataract. Only surgery helps: the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. There is no need to wait until the cataract is ‘ripe’. As soon as you notice the discomfort in your daily life, you can schedule the procedure at Oogartsencentrum ZW-Vlaanderen en Kortrijk-West.
How long does recovery take after cataract surgery and when can you drive again?
There is already a noticeable improvement in vision immediately after the procedure. Reading and watching television are possible right away, and most people return to work after about a week. Avoid rubbing your eyes for two weeks, and use the prescribed eye drops for at least 4 weeks. Getting behind the wheel can sometimes require a little adjustment, especially for those who previously needed a strong glasses prescription.
Can a cataract come back after surgery?
No, once your cataract has been operated on, it will not return. The replacement artificial lens remains in good condition for at least 60 years and is not subject to ageing. What sometimes does occur is a secondary cataract: the lens capsule behind the artificial lens can become cloudy. We can easily resolve this with a quick YAG laser treatment under local anaesthesia with drops at our practices in Harelbeke or Kortrijk.