Cataract Surgery

A medical specialist who undertakes Cataract Surgery is called an

Ophthalmologist

(

eye specialist

). As people age, the lens of the eye can become ‘cloudy’, covered with an opaque film, affecting sight and eventually causes total loss of sight. Cataract surgery involves removal of the entire

clouded lens

(the

cataract

), usually followed by replacement of the lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) made of plastic, silicone, acrylic or other material. The operation typically takes about an hour, is done under local anaesthetic only, and may be done as an outpatient procedure. Normally, the ophthalmologist makes a very small incision and inserts an ultrasonic tip which, vibrating at high speed, breaks up the cataract without damaging surrounding tissue. The remains of the cataract are then suctioned out.