Your cataract surgery procedure

Three short steps to restoring your vision

1.	The procedure Phacoemulsification (small incision surgery) is a surgical method used to remove the cataract through a small tunnel incision. At Centre for Sight we use the latest Stellaris technology to reduce the number of incisions to only two x 1.8mms ones compared to the three x 3.5mm incisions required in conventional cataract surgery. The result is a safer procedure thanks to the contents of the eye remain steady and under full control of the surgeon - plus the recovery period is significantly decreased. An ultrasonic device is used to break up the centre of the lens; simultaneously the fragments are suctioned from the eye.
2.	Most of the lens capsule is left behind and a foldable intraocular lens implant (IOL) is placed permanently inside to help focus light onto the retina.
3.	Stitches are not usually required for closure. Vision returns quickly and one can resume normal activities within a short period of time.

Anaesthesia

At the Centre for Sight, cataract surgery is typically performed
under topical anaesthesia. There are no needles or injections
around the eye, only powerful drops to numb the area
requiring surgery. The surgical procedure is very rapid and
thus there is no need for painful local anaesthetic injections as
has been customary in the past.

Post-operative care

Each patient is reviewed soon after surgery (typically the day
after or within 72 hours) and then again several weeks later to
have the back of the eye examined to ensure all is well. Drops
are required to be taken four times daily reducing by one drop each week.