Treatment in Germany - see top hospital ratings and lists of best specialists, up-to-date information prices adresses and contacts
15.11.2018 14:47:55
Worldwide, gray star is among the most common causes of blindness. In Germany, the mostly age-related illness can be treated well. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in Germany. AUGENTIS reveals the most important information about the cataract and its treatment and explains the risks.
The term cataract (gray star) summarizes eye diseases that are associated with a lens opacification. The name cataract comes through the gray discoloration of the natural lens behind the pupil. Affected then often see blurry in adverse light conditions, such as when driving, and suffer from increasing glare sensitivity. This visual impression can also be compared to a look through cloudy water or a frosted glass.
More than 90 percent of cataracts are due to age. They arise without further influences. The remaining cases are either caused by hereditary components or as a result of the intake of medication such as cortisone or by the effects of X-rays or infrared radiation. Diabetics are at an increased risk of developing cataracts. Even rubella in pregnancy can lead to cataract in babies.
Yes, in western countries there are very good treatment successes. In Germany almost half a million cataract surgeries are performed every year. Worse are the treatment successes in some developing countries. Due to poor medical care and the poverty of the population, most people are blinded by cataracts.
For the treatment of cataract surgery is always necessary, a purely medical therapy does not exist. The lens must be removed during surgery and replaced with a new one. The surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis and takes about 20 minutes. There are two treatment options: intracapsular and extracapsular. Intracapsular means that the lens with the capsule is removed from the eye. Almost always, however, extracapsular surgery is used. Here, the front lens capsule is opened, the clouded lens removed by phacoemulsification. This means that it is only carefully extracted by ultrasound (crushed). Subsequently, the patient is an artificial lens used, which is calculated individually on the eye.
The artificial lens is rigid and can not adapt to the refractive power of the eye. Just seeing in the vicinity is difficult. Many patients need at least reading glasses after surgery. But there is a novel light-adjustable lens. This artificial lens can be stretched or contracted by the irradiation with UV light. Once the desired shape has been achieved and the correct vision is achieved, the lens is hardened. Only in the first few days patients need to wear special sunglasses to avoid the lens being deformed again. After that, no additional visual aid is necessary.
The probability of serious complications is about 0.1 percent. These include bleeding from the choroid and eye infections. The formation of a Nachstars (turbidity of the posterior capsule) can occur in extracapsular surgery and is reliably removed by a laser treatment.
