Cataracts
What are cataracts?
A cataract is when the natural lens in the back of the eye becomes cloudy or foggy. The lens bends light rays to help us focus and see. With a cataract, or cloudy lens, the image may become blurred, distorted, hazy, or less colourful.
What causes a cataract?
- Age (proteins in the lens break down over time causing the cloudiness)
- Certain medical conditions such as diabetes
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking
- Excessive sun exposure without proper eye protection
- Eye injury or previous eye surgeries
- Certain medications such as steroids
Cataract Surgery
Once your vision becomes affected by a cataract and impacts your lifestyle and activities, your doctor will do a full exam to determine if surgery is required. During the surgery, the doctor will remove the natural cloudy lens and replace it with a new artificial lens.
The surgery itself takes about 15 minutes to complete, however, patients will be at the hospital between 3 to 5 hours.
You will be given eye drops to take before and after the procedure. Everyone's recovery is different, however, you can return to most normal daily activities within one week of the surgery.
Types of Lenses
Monofocal Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Monofocal Toric Lens
Provides high-quality vision for a single focal point (distance or near only). These are not suitable for patients who have high astigmatism and are not recommended for those that are looking to reduce their dependency on glasses. Patients will typically still require glasses for near vision (anything within 1.5 meters).
Monofocal Toric Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Monofocal Toric Lens
Similar to the regular Monofocal Lens, this lens provides high-quality vision for a single focal point, but is for patients with astigmatism. This lens will only correct for distance or near, but not both. Patients will typically still require glasses for viewing objects up close (within 1.5 meters).
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Available in standard and toric for patients with astigmatism.
Adds slightly more intermediate vision than the Monofocal lens. These provide high quality vision for intermediate and distance vision. Patients will still require reading glasses, but the range is improved slightly, to within 1 meter. Patients may also still require glasses in dim conditions, or when it’s raining.
Trifocal Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Extended Depth of Focus Lens
Available in standard and toric for patients with astigmatism.
These lenses provide a full depth of vision (distance, intermediate, and near). They are encouraged for patients hoping to significantly reduce or eliminate their need for spectacles.