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Cataract treatment Durban


Dr Grant Ladner provides treatment for cataracts at his Durban and Kloof practices. He is specialises in cataract surgery where necessary.

What are cataracts?

It is a progressive disorder which is slowly progressive in most people. They do not realise that they have it until it has reached its latter stages. If untreated, they could lead to blindness.

 

Eye cataracts are much like someone covering the lens of a camera with something foggy. For us to be able to see distinctly, we need clear lenses. Cataracts obscure the eyes lenses and ultimately prevent light from refracting through it and onto the retina.

Types of cataracts

Not all cataracts are the same. There are 4 different types with each developing in a specific part of the lens. Each type has varying progression patterns as well as physical effects depending on how proteins clump together. The type of cataract you have may change the symptoms.

  • Nuclear Sclerosis Cataracts (Centre of the Lens) – This type occurs when a clump of proteins form in the centre of the lens. It then slowly spreads out over a period of time. This is the most common type and generally brought on as a result of advancing age.
  • Posterior Sub-capsular Cataracts (Back of the Lens) – These are the fastest forming cataracts. This type occurs when clumps or spots form in the back of the capsule containing the lens. The progression of this cataract increasingly obstructs the path of light and causes a glare. They are more likely to occur in people who are younger than 40 years of age.
  • Cortical Cataracts (Outer Layer of the Lens) – This cataract affects the outer layer of the lens. It occurs when streaks or opacities form on the lens in the cortex and spread inward. They are noticeable when white streaks or clouded areas form within the lens cortex.
  • Advanced Cataract – This involves total opacification of the lense. The cortical material may liquify and the nuclear (centre) portion may sink to the bottom of the lense.

Cataract causes

Cataracts are caused by the proteins in your lens breaking down. This in turn causes things to look hazy or blurry. In most cases, they develop when you age or if an injury changes the tissue making up your eye’s lens.

Other causes include medical conditions such as diabetes or past eye surgery, spending lots of time in the sun without sunglasses, or continuously using cortisone medication. Cataracts could also be hereditary so having family members who suffer from it will increase your chances of getting them

Symptoms of cataracts

There are several tell-tale signs to look out for. Here is what most people will experience as their cataracts develop.

  1. Sensitivity to bright light or glare
  2. Cloudy, blurry or dim vision
  3. Faded looking colours
  4. Decreased or poor night vision
  5. Double vision

Contact our Durban eye specialist should you have any of these symptoms.

What does cataract surgery entail?

Cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy lens by means of a small incision in the cornea.  It is then replaced with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens or IOL. It is a painless surgery and typically does not take very long. Cataract surgery is a generally safe procedure that has enjoyed high success rates. It is a day surgery procedure and is performed by an ophthalmologist under sedation in most cases and not general anaesthesia. The cataract is removed by making small incisions into the eye. The lense is then fragmented by means of a process called phacoemulsification using a small probe. The pieces are then sucked out of the eye. An artificial lense is then injected through this small incision and this replaces the natural lense. It takes the eye weeks to recover from cataract surgery. 

Cataract Surgeon in Durban

Should you, or someone you know experience any vision problems, set up an appointment with Dr Ladner today. He is a specialist cataract surgeon operating in Durban and Kloof.

Dr Grant Ladner | Eye Surgeon