Cataract surgery is the removal of the lens of the eye as it develops an opacification, known as Cataract. Cataract is caused due to metabolic changes in the crystalline lens fiber of the eye. A cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist, wherein he removes the natural lens and implants an artificial intraocular lens in its place. The average cost of a cataract surgery in India is around Rs. 4000 - 5000. Though, there are various methods of performing the cataract surgery, only two of them are commonly conducted in India.
- Phacoemulsification
- Extracapsular cataract surgery (ECCE)
Phacoemulsification
In Phacoemulsification, a small incision of about 3 mm is made into the clear part of the cornea. In this, a thin probe is inserted which emits ultrasonic sound waves and breaks up the hard nucleus, leaving behind the lens capsule as a support for the new lens. The cataract is removed with the help of suction.
Extracapsular Cataract Surgery (ECCE)
If the cataract of the patient has reached a stage, where it cannot be removed with Phacoemulsification, then Extracapsular cataract surgery is conducted. In this surgery a large incision of about 10 mm is made in the cornea. The cataract is removed as a single piece and requires stitches. However, apart from this conventional surgery method, Small Incision cataract surgery (SICS) is now picking up.
Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS)
In this procedure, though the incision made is large, it is still small in comparison with the conventional method of ECCE. The incision made is about 5-6 mm and the cataract is removed using fluid pressure. There are no stitches required in the process and the patient recovers fast.
