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Treatment FAQs
Cataract Surgery FaQs
Currently, cataract surgery remains the only treatment for cataracts universally.
Cataract surgery is not an Emergency however the earlier it is done the sooner better vision is restored with better quality of life. Cataract surgery is indicated as soon as the cataracts starts to interfere with your vision, work and quality of life.
No, it is not. Loss of vision and blindness due to advanced cataracts can occur if left untreated,however, vision can be restored with cataract surgery.
It is worth noting that advanced cataracts may make the surgery difficult, with increased risk of complications.
Cataract surgery involves the extraction of the natural lens of the eye that has developed a cataract and its replacement with an Artificial Lens. To perform the surgery, the surgeon accesses the lens, located behind the iris, though a self-sealing 2-3mm incision on the cornea, then proceeds to carefully break up the cataractous lens into small fragments. This is done using an ultrasound machine that delivers vibratory energy in the eye, breaking up the cataract to facilitate removal.
The small fragments are then removed with specialized fluid by way of suction and a foldable artificial lens, called an intraocular Lens implant (IOL) inserted into the eye, replacing the removed natural lens.
With the understanding that Cataract surgery involves the removal of the human natural lens that has developed cataract, without the lens, much of the eye's focusing ability is lost. To restore vision, an artificial intraocular Lens (IOL) is fixed inside the eye and just like the natural lens, it functions to focus light inside the eye.
In addition to restoring vision that has been lost due to cataracts, IOL implants can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness,astigmatism and presbyopia , reducing or completely eliminating the need for glasses post operatively.
A wide range of intraocular lens Implants are available to patients, each offering different effective solutions for their specific vision correction needs. These options include
- Mono-focal Intraocular lens implants which as the name suggests, correct only one range of focus; often distance vision, with the patient requiring near vision glasses for activities like reading and close-up work
- Toric Intraocular lens implants which are Astigmatism correcting IOLs.
- Multifocal Intraocular Lens implants which offer multiple range of focus to correct visual disorders at the near, intermediate and far vision, helping patients reduce/eliminate dependence on glasses for both distance and reading vision
Presently, the materials used to produce IOL implants are Acrylic and Silicone. The lens implants and their optical performance are manufactured to last our lifetime and do not require replacement or cleaning, does not change the appearance of the eye and cannot be felt by the patient once implanted.
Yes; Cataracts can occur in both eyes, but not always at the same rate; one eye may be more affected by a cataract than the other eye. Cataracts is not a contagious condition, however when one develops cataract in one eye, they usually do develop a cataract in the other eye.
Cataract does not reoccur after one has had cataract surgery. However, some patients may experience visual symptoms similar to those they had when they had cataract months or years after undergoing cataract surgery. This is due to a cloudy layer developing behind the artificial lens known as posterior capsular opacification (PCO).
This can easily be addressed by a painless laser treatment known as YAG Capsulotomy, not requiring going back to theater for invasive surgery.
Adult Cataract surgery is mainly performed under topical anesthesia to the eye eliminating risks associated with general anesthesia but exceptions are made for cataract surgery in children, cases of cataract caused by trauma/eye injuries and in very anxious or uncooperative patients. Cataract Surgery is painless and patients cope very well with the topical numbness of the eye throughout the procedure from the topical anesthesia. Patients usually report feeling a touching sensation, slight pressure, a little tightness and mild discomfort during surgery.
Being awake and having eye surgery is one thing most patients are apprehensive about and often wonder if they will be able to see what is going on during surgery. Patients describe seeing movements and changing lights but not seeing the actual surgery taking place.
Cataract surgery is done as a day-case procedure without the need for hospital admission. The entire process usually takes approximately 2 hours from check-in to discharge with the procedure itself taking about 20 – 30 minutes.
Recovery can be looked at from this aspect; that total recovery time varies from patient to patient and can be between 5-6 months however return to work or normal schedule can be between 2- 3 weeks after surgery.
Complete sick-off from work/busy routine is recommended in the Initial post-surgery period of 2 weeks.
Within the recovery phase follow-up care is necessary to monitor healing
Laser Eye Surgery FAQs
Laser eye surgery is a vision correction procedure that aims at treating eye focusing disorders known as refractive Errors; which occur when the eye cannot clearly focus images accurately in the eye, resulting in blurred vision
The treatment involves reshaping the cornea using a programmed laser which sculpts the cornea so as to allow light to be properly focused onto the retina (the back part of the eye).
Yes. A successful Laser vision correction procedure is determined largely by whether an individual meets patient selection criteria for the treatment and if laser eye surgery is right for them. While Laser vision correction is fairly inclusive; not everyone who wears glasses automatically qualifies for the treatment. Before receiving the treatment, one is required to undergo a pre-evaluation process with a refractive surgeon, to best assess one’s suitability. Using an established protocol for reviewing patient eligibility, a patient has to successfully meet the selection criteria.
This is the most commonly asked question by patients who are considering the treatment.
Laser eye surgery is considered a safe elective vision correction procedure; for persons/ patients who meet the criteria that makes for a good candidate and qualify for the treatment. With Laser eye treatment having been performed for over 30 years now, the procedure is well established and extensively researched providing a wealth of clinical management guidelines to offer the best outcomes.
The treatment is generally considered to have a low complication rate estimated to be less than 3% and some of the complications and side effects observed are, dry eyes, compromised vision quality due to glare or halos, Suboptimal Visual outcomes and corneal ectasia
Laser Eye Surgery is an accurate and effective treatment for refractive errors, with full correction possible, helping patients achieve 20/20 vision. While not every refractive error can be optimally treated; in suitable patients, full correction is usually successful in the first intervention. Suboptimal visual outcomes due to residual refractive errors can be remedied with follow - up laser re-treatment / enhancement procedure offered or compensated with the use of aided correction for specific visual functions like driving.
Laser vision correction treats the eyes focusing disorders by reshaping the cornea. The treatment permanently and irreversibly reshapes your cornea making modification in the corneal tissue, thus correcting the refractive error. That said, it is important to mention that, while the treatment offers the ability to give patients 20/20 vision or better, conversely there are factors that may cause changes or variabilities in vision after receiving the treatment.
These vision changes could emanate from Suboptimal visual outcomes resulting from residual refractive errors or regression, or natural degeneration of the eyes that occurs as we age, that causes age related visual problems, which cannot be prevented by the Laser Eye Surgery
Eagle Eye laser center has been offering Laser Vision correction surgery since 2010 and is among the pioneer institutions to introduce the treatment in Kenya. This translates to over 10 years of experience in Laser Eye Surgery. We assemble a refractive surgeon team that is not only well versed in laser eye treatments, but also in non-laser alternatives to vision correction.
This is one of the most common questions we receive, probably occasioned by the anxiety of how the procedure will be done and the thoughts of having a laser pointed at your eye. Most patients wonder “Can the laser burn my eye? Does it hurt? I’m I awake during the procedure?
Laser Eye Surgery is a painless procedure performed under topical anesthesia to the eyes. Patients cope very well with the numbness of the eyes from the topical numbing drops, allowing a patient to be fully awake during surgery. For some patients with excess nerves or anxiety, a relaxant may be given prior to the procedure. Patients usually report feeling a touching sensation, slight pressure, a little tightness and mild discomfort during surgery.
A device is used to gently hold the eyelids open and prevent blinking during surgery and the eye is kept lubricated throughout the process to prevent dryness and discomfort. The laser treatment is a programmed and computer-controlled procedure that can be interrupted and resumed at any time. To observe and track the eye movements of a patient during surgery, the laser is equipped with an eye tracking system, which ensures that the area to be treated is always in the center of the eye. This means that if you move your eye during the treatment, the eye tracker automatically adjusts the laser or interrupts the eye laser treatment .
The entire procedure usually takes approximately 30 minutes to correct both eyes, with the actual laser application for corneal reshaping taking 20-40 seconds or so per eye.
Except for blurriness, patients report marked improvement in vision within the first two to three hours, immediately after surgery and even more functional vision within the next 24 hours. Vision often stabilizes and similarly full recovery of vision usually occurs within the first 5-7 days after the surgery, although one may still experience intermittent blurriness and fluctuations in vision for some time as the eyes continue to heal.
Generally, total healing will take between three and six months and within this recovery period, we schedule regular follow-up visits to monitor vision recuperation and healing.
Down time following laser vision correction treatment is usually about a week and a patient can return to normal, non-strenuous, and non-contact activities within the following week post-surgery. Complete sick-off from work/busy routine is recommended in the Initial post-surgery period of about 5-7 days.
Corneal Cross-linking FAQs
Corneal cross-linking is a surgical treatment for a group of corneal conditions, the most common being keratoconus, that cause progressive thinning and subsequent bulging forward of the cornea. The treatment aims to prevent further progression of corneal thinning by strengthening the weakened cornea.
Corneal crosslinking works by adding bonds between the collagen fibers in your eye. Corneal Collagen is the main structural component in the cornea and between the collagen fibers, exist natural bonds that help hold your cornea in place and give it its dome shape (Round and spherical shape). When these fibers get weak due to corneal disease, the corneal structure is weakened as a result and becomes unable to sustain profile, causing it to bulge outwards into a conical shape
The treatment involves the application of a special Ophthalmic solution known as Riboflavin to the cornea, which is then activated by ultraviolet light exposure. This triggers a chemical reaction that causes new collagen bonds to form.
Cross - linking has shown great success, evidenced in its ability to increase corneal collagen strength by almost 300%. Currently it is the only available treatment proven to arrest the progression of corneal thinning. Evaluation is essential to assess the extent of corneal damage and to determine if Cross Linking is beneficial to a patient. If there is no evidence of progression or if there is already severe corneal thinning, then Corneal Cross Linking will have very little to no benefit.
Corneal cross linking is a minimally invasive procedure performed as day surgery under topical anesthesia to the eye.
The procedure involves removal of the superficial layer of the cornea (this increases permeability of the cornea to the absorption of the riboflavin drops), followed by the application of the riboflavin formulation until the cornea is soaked/saturated, then subsequent exposure of the treated eye to regulated ultraviolet light for about half hour.
This interaction triggers reactions that build new bonds between the strands of collagen that make up your cornea. The entire procedure takes approximately 45 minutes per eye.
The aim of this procedure is to solely arrest progressive corneal thinning and not vision correction, although some vision improvement may be observed as the cornea stabilizes.
Corneal Cross Linking is not Laser surgery. The method and effect of treatment is completely different in that, while Laser Eye Surgery involves sculpting the cornea by surgically removing corneal tissue to change the shape and correct vision, corneal cross linking works in the reverse, to preserve, strengthen and reinforce the cornea, weakened by disease. Ultraviolet light used in crosslinking does not have the properties of a laser therefore identifying the procedures as completely different.While Corneal cross-linking will stop the progression it will not restore the damaged vision. Very often spectacle correction or specialized contact lenses are needed to correct vision postoperatively and non-laser alternatives to vision correction like ICL surgery may be recommended for patients interested in vision correction.
Corneal cross-linking is a safe and minimally invasive treatment; however, it may cause some minor after-treatment effects. These are often transient and a part of the healing process and may include pain in the first 1-2 days, sensitivity to light for several days, blurry vision and haze within the cornea that may cause blurring for up to a few weeks. There are other less common possible complications and side effects that the ophthalmologist will discuss with you.
Corneal Crosslinking procedure has a relatively quick recovery period, although long term follow-up (Ranging between 2- 3 years) is required to assess effectiveness of treatment in stopping progression of corneal thinning and monitoring stability.
Down time following treatment is usually about 7 – 10 days. Complete sick off in the initial post -surgery period is advisable. Most patients are able to return to normal schedule within the first two weeks postoperatively as they have by this time recovered satisfactory functional vision.
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