Are You Planning for Cataract Surgery in Delhi?

If you are thinking of undergoing cataract surgery in Delhi, you can be assured that this surgery is safe, quick, and not a very painful process. Modern cataract surgery is minimally invasive surgery, and with the modern techniques available, surgery in each eye typically requires only about 5 to 7 minutes. Patients are comfortable during the procedure and are able to go home the same day.

Delhi has many eye care centres, but at Save Sight Centre, the patients receive the advantage of a combination of modern technology with an experienced surgeon. Our doctors, such as Dr Rajeev Jain, Dr Shuchi Gupta and Dr Ankit Malhotra, have more than 25 years of experience with a collective number of performing over 50,000 cataract surgeries. Their expertise is helpful to ensure precision, safety and excellent visual outcomes for patients.

You can visit the Save Sight Centre in Adarsh Nagar, Delhi and meet with the cataract specialists. They will then advise you on the most appropriate intraocular lens (IOL) according to your work, lifestyle and eyes after an elaborate check-up.

The Common Causes of Cataract

A cataract can occur in anyone, but certain circumstances increase the chances of a cataract:

• Ageing is the most common cause of cataract as the natural lens suffers an inevitable and natural wear and tear as one gets older.
• Serious trauma or penetrating trauma to the eye can cause the lens to suffer trauma, resulting in a loss of transparency at an early age.
• Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, over a long period of time, without proper eye protection, may result in a faster development of cataract.
• Diabetes, especially if the blood sugar levels are uncontrolled, can lead to the lens changing its structure, that is, cataract develops faster and at a higher level than the density.
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are the major risk factors that increase the potential of cataract and other eye disorders.
• Steroids intake both topical as well as oral both can cause early cataract.

Symptoms of Cataract

You can have a cataract when you observe the following changes in your vision:

• Cloudy, blurry or dim vision is a major symptom of a cataract eye.
• Night vision becomes difficult, especially if you are driving; the lack of contrast and glare.
• Sensitivity to light and glare is increased, making headlights and sunlight uncomfortable.
• Less light reaches the retina in the case of brighter light; it is therefore often necessary to increase the amount of light for reading or close work.
• Frequent changes of glasses or contact lenses occur when the eyes continue to change vision.
• Colours may appear faded or yellowed (due to some alteration in the filtration of light by the lens).
• In some cases, cataracts can lead to double vision in one specific eye because of the uneven focusing.

An eye check-up can confirm whether you have a cataract or are experiencing something else which is affecting your vision.

What is the Best Time for a Cataract Operation?

When a person is informed that he/she has a cataract, it does not mean that he/she has to be operated on the same day. Surgery on cataract may be performed safely at any season;

cataract surgery has no weather restrictions.

Surgery is normally taken in case:

• Even new glasses cannot help you with visual problems.
• The vision begins to become blurred, thus affecting the normal day-to-day activities such as reading, night driving, cooking, or working.
• Other eye issues, including diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma, are becoming difficult to treat or monitor due to the cataract.

Current cataract surgery does not need the cataract to mature or even ripen out, as it was previously thought. You can decide at the right moment with the guidance of your doctor, since you can determine how much your vision is impacting your quality of life, particularly in the case of diabetes, since cataracts can develop at a higher rate.

Types of Cataract Operation

The current cataract surgery has become safer, quicker and more accurate. The kind of cataract surgery to adopt is dependent on the density of the cataract, eye complications, and the technology.

1. PHACO: The most common type of cataract surgery performed nowadays is Phacoemulsification (Phaco Surgery). In this procedure, ultrasound energy is applied to shred the hazy natural lens into minute fragments, which are then removed by a very small incision. The same incision is used to implant a foldable intraocular lens, which heals faster, has minimal discomfort and has great visual results. Phaco surgery suits most age-related cataracts, and patients are able to resume normal activities at a quick rate.

2. MICS: Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery (MICS) is a sophisticated type of phaco surgery which is done using an even smaller incision. The smaller size of the incision will result in less tissue disruption, quicker visual recovery and decreased post-operative astigmatism. MICS can be particularly of use to patients who want faster recovery and much more precise results, so long as the cataract density and eye state allow the use of this method.

Why Intraocular Lens (IOL) Matters in Cataract Removal

The only way of treating a cataract-affected natural lens is to remove it and replace it with an intraocular lens, which restores normal vision. This artificial lens is permanent to the eye, and it is important in the determination of visual sharpness at various distances, bilateral optical equality and general contentment in everyday existence. Since the cataract surgery is typically done once in a lifetime per eye, the IOL is a long-lasting decision and must be properly considered depending on the health of the eye, life requirements and vision in consultation with the surgeon.

Types of Cataract Lenses

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are of various types available in the market, and each one of them is designed to suit various visual requirements, eye defects and lifestyle. The IOL decision is an important point in cataract surgery because it directly influences the quality of vision and glasses-free vision in the post-surgery period.

1. Monofocal IOLs provide clear and sharp vision, which is focused at one constant distance, mostly used to focus on distance vision. They represent the most popular lenses since they are reliable and have good vision. Nevertheless, the patients typically need the use of spectacles to do their close tasks like reading, writing, or using mobile phones after surgery.

2. Multifocal IOLs focus on multiple focal points, or distance, near, intermediate, and far vision, to spread the light and create a vision that covers all these distances. The lenses can greatly eliminate glasses usage in their day-to-day life, and they are therefore appropriate for those patients who want to be able to see more independently. Certain people might have mild glare or halos at a certain time, and that tends to fade away.

3. Toric IOLs are particularly designed to correct the problem of astigmatism in patients; the cornea is not regular in shape, resulting in blurred or distorted vision. The cataract and the astigmatism are also corrected together by toric glasses, resulting in a sharper and more stable vision and reduced usage of cylindrical glasses post-surgical.

4. Extended Depth Of Focus (EDOF) IOLs offer a continuous focus vision, especially better intermediate vision that is used in activities like driving and using computers. The lenses are fitted in such a way that they reduce the visual disruptions such as glare and halos, and therefore they are a good choice when an individual requires a balanced vision with reduced optical side effects and is also leading an active lifestyle.

Know How to Decide Which IOL Is “Best” for You?

Steps of Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery involves a series of precise and well-controlled steps that allow the safe removal of the cataract and replacement with an artificial intraocular lens.

Main Procedure shown in the image but here are the 7 major steps involved in the surgery:

Step 1 - Pre-operative preparation

The eye is first cleansed and sterilised before the surgery commences to avoid infection. To make the patient pain-free, the eye is numbed by instilling local anaesthetic eye drops to make the whole procedure painless.

Step 2 - Creating a small incision

A very minute and delicate opening is made on the eye surface by the surgeon to reach the natural lens, which is affected by cataract. This small cut ensures that the trauma to the eye is reduced, and it also ensures that the eye heals more quickly than when the incision is larger.

Step 3 - Shattering the misty natural lens.

The cloudy lens is broken into minute, tiny fragments with the help of ultrasound energy (phacoemulsification) or laser technology. The step enables the removal of cataract to be done in a safe manner without impacting the other structures of the eye.

Step 4 - Removing the cataract

The suction is done through the small incision to carefully remove the fragmented lens material. This is carried out in stages and very carefully so as to make sure that the eye is stable and safe.

Step 5 - Lens implantation.

After the cataract is totally removed, a clear artificial intraocular lens is inserted in the eye. The IOL plays the same role as the natural lens by being placed in the same location to focus the light appropriately.

Step 6 - Closure of the incision

The incision is, in most instances, self-sealing and does not need stitches. This decreases the time of recovery and enables the eye to heal naturally.

Step 7 - Post-surgery recovery

Following some form of observation, the patient is discharged back home on the same day. Eye drop prescriptions and instructions on the post-operative care are provided to aid in the healing process and provide the optimal visual results.

Best Cataract Surgeon in Delhi

When it comes to choosing the best cataract surgeon in Delhi, Save Sight Centre stands out with its experienced team led by Dr Rajeev Jain who has 20+ years of experience. The team, together with Dr Shuchi Gupta and Dr Ankit Malhotra, provides the latest patient-focused approach to perform cataract surgery with modern methods and techniques. This makes choosing Save Sight Centre a reliable option in terms of quality and long-term vision.

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Post-op Care after Cataract Operation

After cataract surgery, effective post-operative care is a prerequisite to a pain-free healing process and maximum visual outcomes.

To avoid infection and contain the inflammation, it is recommended that patients take prescribed eye drops regularly. One should not rub or press the operated eye, and protective eye shields can be applied during sleep.

Strong physical efforts, lifting heavy things, and getting dust or water in the eyes should be short-term. The majority of patients record a significant improvement in vision after several days, which is fully cured within several weeks.

Cost of Cataract Surgery in Delhi

The prices of cataract surgery in Delhi are very different, and they depend on the kind of surgery, the kind of intraocular lens (IOL) used, the experience of the surgeon and the place of surgery. Basic cataract surgery using a standard monofocal IOL in Delhi can range between Rs. 20,000 and 50,000 per eye, which may comprise pre-operation examination, doctor's fee, and OT charges.

Additional treatments such as the femtosecond laser-assisted surgery or high-quality IOLs (including multifocal or toric lenses) can be a significant expense to the price and can run between Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 or more per eye. It has premium lens options like EDOF that offer a spectacle-free vision or correct astigmatism, but they are more prone to inflate the end price since they are more advanced and have more vision benefits.

All major Insurance companies/ PSU/ TPA & Govt. Plans are accepted at Save Sight Centre.