Treating cataracts in Melbourne
Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens loses its transparency, usually with age. This clouding causes vision to become dull, blurry or dim. Left untreated, cataracts worsen over time and can eventually lead to vision loss.
But here’s the bright side: cataract surgery is safe, routine and highly effective. During a cataract operation, we replace your cloudy lenses with clear artificial lenses (IOLs), restoring not just clarity, but often correcting your vision, too.
A little bit of eye anatomy
We don’t want to get too technical about it. But when you’re considering a cataract procedure where we exchange your natural lens for a replacement lens, it’s good to know what’s going on.
In a young eye, the natural crystalline lens is transparent, so light entering the eye passes straight through it. As we age, the proteins in the eye’s lens start to break down and clump together. Light can’t easily pass through these protein clumps and is scattered instead. This is the cause of blurry vision.
Most cataracts are related to age, but genetics can play a role. Certain medical conditions can also increase the risk, as can eye injuries and the use of some medications like steroids.
Diagnosis & examination
During your consultation, we’ll use state-of-the-art diagnostic tests and scans to assess your eye health and vision.
With such precise analysis, we’ll be able to confirm whether cataracts are present and if surgery is safe and necessary. If so, we’ll tell you all about cataract removal and discuss your artificial lens options.
It’s important to see an eye specialist if you experience the visual effects of cataracts. Early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve your vision.
Treatment
When it comes to treating cataracts, surgery is the only effective option. Rest assured, modern cataract surgery is safe, effective and performed on around 250,000 Australians every year.
The cataract operation is a quick, day procedure performed in-hospital under local anaesthetic. It involves gently replacing your cloudy natural lens with a premium intraocular lens (IOL) tailored to your exact needs. The procedure itself takes around 30 minutes, and you can return home within several hours.
Recovery
After your cataract surgery, visual recovery is fast, post operative care is simple, and your new lenses can provide permanent correction for both near vision and distance vision. Most patients return to their routine within days and no longer need glasses – which is why it’s considered such a liberating procedure.
Cataract surgery is a milestone moment which can feel both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Our experienced cataract surgeons have thousands of procedures under their belt and combine surgical precision with genuine care to make your experience feel easy, safe and empowering.
