What Is Cataract Surgery?

We share everything cataract removal surgery with consultant ophthalmologist Christopher Scott at The Albyn Hospital. Mr Scott has been an eye specialist for 30 years and has performed this procedure thousands of times throughout his career. If you’re in search of expert information about this surgery, you’re in the right place! For more information about cataract removal surgery, browse: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/treatments/cataract-surgery https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/health-matters/eyes/a-focus-on-cataracts https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/health-matters/eyes/recovering-from-cataract-surgery-what-you-need-to-know – CHAPTERS -- 00:00 - 00:29 - Introduction 00:29 - 01:14 – What is a cataract? 01:14 - 01:57 – What causes cataracts? 01:57 - 03:10 – How is a cataract diagnosed? 03:10 - 04:40 – Is surgery the only treatment for cataracts? 04:40 - 04:32 – What happens during cataract surgery? 04:32 - 05:23 – What are the different lenses used during surgery? 05:23 - 06:29 – What does the cataract surgery recovery period look like? 06:29 - 07:09 – When can you drive after cataract surgery? 07:07 - 07:33 – When can you go back to work after cataract surgery? 07:33 - 08:14 – When can I exercise properly after surgery? 08:14 - 09:01 - Outro What is a cataract? A cataract is a medical condition that affects the lens of your eye. The lens is a clear, flexible structure located behind the iris, which is the coloured part of the eye. It helps to focus light, allowing you to see properly. Having a cataract means that the clear lens that you were born with has become cloudy or opaque. This can happen very slowly over decades with age, or very rapidly with some drugs or trauma. The cloudiness can cause your vision to become blurry or hazy, making it difficult to see clearly. It can be like looking through a foggy or frosted window, or it can cause glare and dazzle in bright light – there are many types of vision problems that different types of cataract can cause. Cataracts are very common, especially as we get older. What causes cataracts? The most common cause of cataracts is simply getting older. As you age, the proteins in your lens can break down and clump together, causing cloudiness. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation from the sun can also increase the risk of cataracts. Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays can help reduce this risk. Smoking tobacco has been linked to an increased risk of cataracts, and people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cataracts due to changes in blood sugar levels that can affect their lens. Trauma or injuries to your eye can also lead to cataracts, especially if your lens becomes damaged. Taking some medicines such as steroids can also cause cataracts. How is a cataract diagnosed? You will undergo a visual test, commonly known as the eye chart test. This test involves reading letters or symbols on an eye chart from a specific distance to assess your central vision. At the consultation, your pupils will usually be dilated using eye drops. This allows us to examine your lens and the retina at the back of your eye. Your consultant will use a slit lamp, which is a specialised microscope with a bright light, to examine your eye's structures, as well as your lens. This allows your consultant to assess the cataracts and look for any other conditions which might be relevant. In some cases, additional tests, such as optical coherence tomography or ultrasound might be used to provide more detailed images of your eye's internal structures. Is surgery the only treatment for cataracts? Cataract surgery is the most common form of treatment because it is the only way to properly replace your lens with an artificial one, restoring your vision as a result. There are ways to treat cataracts in its early stages before surgery. For example, you might be prescribed new glasses, or magnifying devices, but only surgery can eliminate the problem. If you have symptoms of a cataract and would like help, you can book an appointment with an ophthalmologist to begin your treatment journey. Leave a comment below if you’d like more expert videos from consultants about surgery for cataracts. Further Links –  Mr Christopher Scott is a consultant ophthalmologist at The Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/hospitals/albyn-hospital https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/hospitals/albyn-hospital/private-eye-surgery-aberdeen Hashtags - #cataractsurgery #cataractremovalsurgery #cataracts