We have a transparent lens in our eyes that can easily allow light to pass through. This lens has two very important properties in our daily lives.
- The first property is that the lens has a transparent medium that allows light to pass through easily, enabling us to see by directing the light to the most sensitive point of our retina.
- The second property is that the lens has partial flexibility, which is an important function, especially before the age of forty, allowing us to see things up close. Depending on the distance we are looking at, our lens focuses the light to ensure it falls on the retina.
Cataract is the loss of transparency and flexibility of the lens, which is our original lens.
Why does cataract occur?
The most common cause of cataracts is age-related cataracts, which we refer to as senile cataracts. In other words, we can say that cataract is a disease associated with aging. If we have a long enough life, cataracts will develop in our eyes at some point in our lives. In addition to this, congenital cataracts, which are present from birth, cataracts that develop due to the use of certain medications such as corticosteroids, some metabolic diseases, and systemic diseases like diabetes can also lead to cataract formation.
How can I tell if I have cataracts? What are the symptoms?
- Reduced vision
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Deterioration in near vision
- Decreased color perception
- Reduced night vision
- Sometimes, various complaints such as double vision can occur.
How is cataract treated?
The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. During the surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and an artificial transparent lens is implanted in its place.
I don’t want to use a lens. Can I see if only my cataract is removed?
The intraocular lens is one of the crucial refractive elements of our eye. If the cataract is removed without replacing it with an artificial lens, you can see at most up to a distance of 1 meter.
Which lens is the best? How should a lens be installed?
There are many different brands and origins of lenses available, but we can generally categorize these lenses into three types:
- Monofocal Lenses: When these lenses are inserted into the eye, patients can see distant objects clearly, but they may not be able to see near objects clearly. Reading glasses may be needed for near vision after the surgery.
- Multifocal Lenses: With these lenses, patients can achieve clear vision both up close and at a distance, but they may not perform as well in intermediate distances.
- Trifocal (Three-Focus, Premium) Lenses: These state-of-the-art lenses provide good vision for distance, near, and intermediate distances.
Can I achieve sharp vision with premium lenses? Are there postoperative issues with these lenses?
While the vision for distance may not be as sharp as with monofocal lenses, patients are generally quite satisfied with premium lenses. However, some patients may experience discomfort from glare or halos when driving at night.
Can premium lenses be installed in every patient?
Patients with serious eye conditions such as diabetes-related eye disease, macular degeneration, certain corneal diseases, etc., should not have these lenses installed. Apart from these conditions, patients without any significant eye diseases can have these lenses implanted if they prefer to do so.