What is a cataract?
Cataract is a painless eye disease. It involves the progressive clouding (opacification) of the lens, which results in a gradual deterioration of vision. Cataract can manifest itself as: blurred vision, light splitting or abnormal colour vision.
Other types of cataract are: diabetic cataract (caused by metabolic disorders), and traumatic cataract. In the case of traumatic cataract, lens opacity is caused by the injury to the eye or head. And congenital cataracts: the child is born with a cloudy lens or lens becomes cloudy in a few or several years after birth.
Phacoemulsification cataract surgery
Cataract is removed by phacoemulsification with ultrasound (sometimes mistaken for laser treatment). Cloudy lens is broken up (emulsified) with ultrasound into pieces and the remnants are aspirated from the eye. After the lens capsule is cleared, an artificial lens is implanted. Cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthesia. The wound is sealed without the use of sutures. On the second day after the operation, the patient will be examined and prescribed drops to prevent the occurrence of postoperative infection or swelling and the follow-up visit will be arranged.
Vitrectomy
Pars plana vitrectomy is a microsurgical operation used in the treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous.
Vitrectomy used in the treatment of diseases such as:
- retinal detachment,
- diabetic retinopathy,
- ocular trauma,
- haemorrhage into the vitreous chamber,
- macular holes,
- epiretinal and subretinal membranes,
- complications after previous ocular surgery.
The operation is performed under pharmacologically assisted local anaesthesia. During the procedure three linear entries are made in the wall of the eyeball with a length of 0.5 to 1.0mm, 4mm from the limbus, through which surgical instruments and the substances necessary during surgery are inserted into the eye. These substances are (depending on the causes of and responses):
- sterile fluid,
- filtered air,
- gas expansion is usually indicated in cases requiring prolonged tamponade - after its administration the patient may need to stay in a set position, e.g. head bent, or reclining in the manner indicated,
- silicone oil.
In some cases, if such a procedure has not been done before, there is a need for simultaneous removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial one.