Cataracts

What are cataracts?

It is the opacity or cloudiness of the lens that prevents a sharp image from being formed on the retina, resulting in a loss of vision. It is usually caused by age; however, there are other causes, such as diseases, trauma or hereditary factors.

Surgical treatment of cataracts

Phacoemulsification technique (PHACO)

• Size of the incision from 1 to 2.75 mm.
• A probe is used to break the lens in microscopic pieces, which are then gently vacuumed up.
• It does not require sutures (“stitch-free” cataract surgery).

For patients over 40 to 45 years old with high degrees of refractive errors or with some degree of cataracts, the most recommendable surgical technique is extraction of the lens using the phacoemulsification technique and then implanting an intraocular lens.

The extraordinary evolution in the design of modern intraocular lenses, which incorporate biocompatible material, provides surgeons with an array of options that enable excellent clinical results to be obtained and make it possible for many patients to recover reduced dependence on glasses for seeing different distances.