Frequently Asked Question

How do I know if I'm a candidate?
The ideal candidate is over 18 years of age with healthy eyes and stable refractive status. LASIK treatment can correct a wide range of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Generally LASIK surgeon conducts, essential pre LASIK assessment test to know whether you are suitable candidate for LASIK?

What is LASIK, and how is it done?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that is capable of correcting a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.

What does the name of the LASIK procedure mean?
LASIK is the acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis, sometimes referred to as laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. The name refers the use of a laser to reshape the cornea without invading the adjacent cell layers. In situ is Greek for "in the natural or normal place." Medically, in situ means confined to the site of origin without invasion of neighboring tissues. Kerato is the Greek word for cornea and mileusis means "to shape.".

Who can LASIK benefit?
LASIK can benefit a great number of people with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Candidates should have a strong desire to be less dependent on corrective lenses, have established realistic expectations, and understand the risks associated with the surgery.

Who can't have LASIK?
There are a number of factors that doctors must evaluate before they can determine who is an eligible candidate for LASIK. Some doctors deem certain pre-existing conditions contraindications to the procedure and will not perform surgery if you possess them. Sometimes, factors exist that preclude a patient from being an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery. In many cases, a surgeon may still be able to safely perform the procedure, given that the patient and physician have adequately discussed the risks and benefits and set realistic expectations for results.

If I'm not eligible for LASIK, are there other options available to me?
LASIK is only one type of refractive surgery available to patients. Although you may not be eligible for LASIK, you may be eligible for a different procedure. You would need to discuss your options with your ophthalmologist.

I am happy with my contact lenses. Should I pursue having LASIK?
Most surgeons agree that if you are comfortable wearing contact lenses and are not bothered by being dependent on them, you should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of LASIK.

What results can I expect from LASIK?
LASIK improves the uncorrected vision - one's vision without wearing corrective lenses - in most patients who have the procedure. Over 90% of patients with low to moderate myopia will achieve 20/40 vision, which is considered the minimum allowed by most states and provinces to drive without having to wear contacts or glasses. Over half of all patients can expect to achieve 20/20 vision or better. However, there are no guarantees that you will have perfect vision, and patients with high myopia (more than -7D) and high hyperopia (more than +4D) should have a different set of expectations. People who are most satisfied with the results of laser correction possess realistic expectations of what their vision will be like after surgery.

Will my vision be as crisp after LASIK?
Patients need to understand that 20/20 vision after LASIK might be different from 20/20 with corrective lenses. Some people describe the images they see post-operatively as not being as "crisp" as those seen through glasses.

How long will it take before I can see well, and how long will it take before I have my best vision?
Fast visual recovery characterizes this operation. Most patients achieve good vision the day of surgery and find that their eyes feel fairly normal within a day. However, vision can continue to improve, and best vision can still take two to three months to occur. If necessary, adjustments to the surgery called enhancements can be done. Patients who undergo hyperopic LASIK often need to wait longer to able to see clearly. Typically, they are unable to see with intense clarity for one or two weeks, with best vision coming in several months post-operatively.

Will I need to wear glasses or bifocals once my eyes have healed?
Most patients who have LASIK do not need to wear glasses for their daily activities. However, patients may need to wear reading glasses if they are over the age of 40. This is caused by the normal aging of the eye known as presbyopia. This condition occurs with or without LASIK. Some patients may need a minimal prescription for some activities. Those patients who currently have bifocals will still need reading glasses after the surgery unless they opt for a treatment plan called monovision, wherein one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision.

After LASIK, how will my vision be at night or in low light?
Most patients do not notice a change; however some patients will notice glare, halos or starburst around objects in dim or low-light conditions. For the vast majority, these symptoms are temporary. However, others will continue to experience them for several months or longer. Although these symptoms do not necessarily interfere with visual acuity as it is measured by an eye chart, for some patients, the experience can interfere with their activities.

Will my eyes be dry after LASIK?
Some patients who seek LASIK have underlying dry eye syndrome that has not been diagnosed. There appears to be a correlation between pre-operative dry eye syndrome and developing more pronounced dry eye symptoms post-operatively. Therefore, many doctors test for dry eye prior to making a decision regarding eligibility.

Are the results achieved from LASIK permanent?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that permanently removes corneal tissue to reshape the eye in order to improve refraction. The physical results are permanent. However, you should be aware that since the eyes can still change with time, and LASIK does not affect a number of visual conditions associated with age. For example, LASIK does not prevent presbyopia or affect this condition once it does occur.

If I have LASIK and my vision changes later in life, can it be redone?
Depending on the cause, retreatment may be a viable solution to vision changes later in life, and other treatment options exist. You would need to see your ophthalmologist to determine the cause of the change and to determine which option is best for you.

Does the LASIK procedure hurt?
Patients are given a topical anesthetic (eye drops) to numb the eye, so they experience no pain during the procedure. When the surgeon applies the vacuum ring, the patient experiences a sensation of pressure just before his or her vision fades for a few seconds. The microkeratome - the instrument the surgeon uses to create the flap - and the laser do not cause any pain or discomfort. For several hours after the procedure, many patients describe a mild burning sensation, such as after opening the eyes while swimming in chlorinated water. Therefore, taking a nap for the first 2 to 3 hours after LASIK is encouraged. After the first few hours, this uncomfortable feeling usually subsides.

What kind of anesthetic is used for LASIK?
The procedure is done with topical anesthetic (eye drops) to numb the eye. Patients may be given a small amount of oral sedative to help them relax.

How safe is the LASIK procedure?
According to several large studies, there is approximately a 2% intra-operative and 3-5% post-operative complication rate. Most of these complications do not result in loss of 2 or more lines of best corrected visual acuity or interfere with vision long term. The rate of severe complications should be substantially less than 1%. It is important for patients to understand that LASIK is surgery, and a small incidence of complications is to be expected.

Can I have both eyes done with LASIK at the same time?
You can have bilateral simultaneous LASIK (both eyes done at the same time). In fact, the practice is common. However, in some circumstances, surgeons or patients will determine that it is best to wait between eyes in order to evaluate the results. Hyperopic LASIK patients do not experience the extremely fast visual recovery that myopic patients do. Therefore, some surgeons prefer to operate on their eyes separately. Patients should discuss their options with their ophthalmologist.

If I have one eye done at a time, what will my vision be like in between the first and second surgeries?
There are a number of different options to help patients deal with their vision between procedures. Some patients who do not have bilateral surgery will begin wearing a contact lens in the eye that has not undergone surgery. This practice gives them an opportunity to use their two eyes simultaneously. However, the contact lens will need to be removed at least three days prior to the second surgery. Others function by using the operated eye immediately without use of a contact lens in the opposite eye. This solution may work for nearsighted patients with a moderate refractive error (less than six diopters). A patient with a refractive error above six diopters who does not wear a contact lens may be unable to use both eyes together due to the large difference in refractive error between the eyes. Removing one lens from a pair of glasses is usually not useful. Doing so could cause double vision and eye strain.

How long will I be out of work after having LASIK?
It depends on your occupation. Certain jobs that require intense clarity of vision (dentistry and surgery, for example) may be difficult to perform for one or two days. Most patients can return to work the next day, assuming their vision is adequate for their job. However, some people may feel fatigued for a day or so following surgery.

Can I play sports after LASIK surgery?
You can resume most normal activities immediately after surgery. However, for at least two weeks you will need to avoid activities that would cause perspiration to run into the eyes. You should wear safety glasses while playing contact sports whether or not you have had surgery. But if you do not routinely wear safety glasses, your surgeon may recommend wearing them for at least one month after LASIK. You will also need to avoid such activities as contact sports and swimming for several weeks. It is important to talk specifically with your doctor about limitations on activities after LASIK.

Can I drive immediately after having LASIK?
Patients may experience some discomfort and/or blurred vision for a few hours after surgery. And most patients receive a sedative prior to surgery. Therefore, you cannot drive home after undergoing the procedure, and you should plan not to drive for at least twenty-four hours.

Will my eyes look different after LASIK?
NO your eye look exactly the same

Is there an upper age limit for laser eye surgery?
No! There is no upper age limit but you should not have any cataracts.

I have hyperopia. Can I benefit from LASIK treatment?
Yes. Hyperopia up to 6 diopters can be corrected with LASIK treatment. If your prescription is higher than that you may have to undergo phakic intraocular lens implantation or clear lens extraction.

If I have astigmatism, am I still a good candidate?
Yes. We are able to correct the astigmatism through reshaping of the cornea with the laser.

Does insurance cover LASIK operation?
LASIK treatment and other types of refractive surgery are considered "cosmetic" by insurance companies and are usually not covered by insurance at this time. However there are some exceptions and you may call your individual insurance TPA directly if you have any questions regarding your coverage.

What if I move my eye during treatment? What if I don't keep looking at the fixation light?
In addition to surgeon control, an extremely advanced eye tracker on our laser monitors eye movements and compensates faster than the eye can move. This safety feature is not present on all lasers. With any large deviations, the surgeon or the eye tracker will simply stop the laser ablation and restart the process when the eye is perfectly aligned. The laser is designed to pick up where it left off.

Is the LASIK procedure painful?
No! Patients experience virtually no discomfort during the LASIK procedure.

How long will the LASIK procedure take?
LASIK operation takes about 4 to 5 minutes for an eye. The actual laser ablation time is in terms of seconds

Is the effect of LASIK treatment permanent?
Yes. Following an initial healing period of three to six months, the effect of the treatment is life-long. Rarely, a minimal regression might occur

Will I see 20/20 after my procedure?
Your corrected vision following LASIK operation depends on the strength of your prescription as well as other individual factors.

If I don't get full correction, can I be retreated?
Correction may be fine-tuned with retreatment, known as enhancement, and is generally performed after the first six months.

How safe is laser treatment?
The safety of LASIK operation is one of the main reasons it has become so popular. Severe complications are extremely rare. The laser has been in widespread use for the treatment of myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism over 15 years. Millions of successful procedures have been performed around the world.

What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of LASIK operation are: fluctuating vision (which only lasts for the first few weeks), night glare (which typically lasts for the first few weeks), and dry eye (which only lasts for the first few weeks).

What is the criteria for doing C3R?
In progressive keratoconus in order to strengthen the cornea C3R is recommended. The minimum corneal thickness required is 400microns and above.

What is the duration of C3R treatment?
The duration requird is roughly 60 minutes. 30 mins for riboflavion application and 30 mins for the UV light exposure.

Is the proccedure painful?
C3R is done under topical Anaesthesia. The post procedural pain may persists for 2 to 7 days.

Does C3R causes blurring of vision?
The blurring will persists for couple of days to 10 days.

Does C3R stabilize the vision in keratoconus?
The main purpose of doing C3R is to stabilize keratoconus so that contact lenses or glasses can be used to have clear vision.

Whether C3R give immediate results?
No. To know the effect of C3R we have to wait for minimum 3 to 6 months.

When do I start working after this treatment?
After 2 to 3 days usually people who undergo C3R will be comfortable to work.

What is the Difference between ICLs and IOLs?
Implantable contact lenses are often referred to as phakic IOLs, refers to an eye with the natural lens still intact. Therefore, the main difference between implantable contact lenses and traditional IOLs is the fact that an ICL works in conjunction with the eye's crystalline lens and an IOL replaces the eye's natural lens.

Are Implantable Contact Lenses Safe?
Yes. Although all surgical procedures carry some risk of complications, implantable contact lenses have a proven track record of safety.

Are Both Eyes Treated at the Same Time?
No. Typically, one eye is treated at a time.

Will I Feel the ICL after the Procedure?
No. Although you may experience slight discomfort during the procedure, you should not be able to feel a properly implanted ICL.

What Results Should I Expect after ICL Treatment?
Almost immediately following ICL treatment, you should experience clearer vision. The benefits of implantable contact lenses include convenience, safety and amazing results.

How do I know if I am a suitable ICL candidate?
Candidates for the ICL are between 21 and 45 years of age, suffer from myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and/or astigmatism (cylindrical power) and want to experience superior vision correction. The ideal ICL candidate has not undergone any ophthalmic surgery (though your surgeon might opt to do it as a secondary procedure in certain select cases) and does not have a history of eye disease such as iritis, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
Apart being a primary procedure to correct refractive errors, people having high degree myopia and thin central cornea can also undergo this procedure.

Where is the ICL placed?
A trained ophthalmologist will insert the ICL through a small micro-incison, placing it inside the eye just behind the iris in front of the eye's natural lens. The ICL is designed not to touch any internal eye structures and stay in place with no special care.

What is Toric ICL?
The Toric ICL is a only variant of ICL. Toric ICL corrects your spherical error as well as your astigmatism (cylindrical power) in one single procedure. Each lens is custom made to meet the needs of each individual eye.

Does it hurt?
No, most patients state that they are very comfortable throughout the procedure. Your ophthalmologist will use a topical anesthetic drop prior to the procedure and may choose to administer a light sedative as well.

What is the ICL made of?
The ICL is made of Collamer®, a highly biocompatible advanced lens material which contains a small amount of purified collagen.

What if my vision changes after I receive the ICL?
One advantage of the ICL is that it offers treatment flexibility. If your vision changes dramatically after receiving the implant, your doctor can remove and replace it. If necessary, another procedure can be performed at any time.

What's the difference between Glaucoma and ocular hypertension?

• In Glaucoma along with high IOP there is an optic nerve damage.
• Ocular hypertension is another term for high IOP; the pressure is not high enough to cause optic nerve damage and vision loss.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• In the vast majority of cases, especially in early stages, there are few signs or symptoms. In the later stages of the disease.
• Symptoms can occur that include:
• Loss of side vision;
• Difficulty for dark adaptation
• Difficulty in focusing on close work;
• Rainbow coloured rings or haloes around lights and frequent change of eyeglasses

How is Glaucoma detected?
Early detection of open angle Glaucoma is extremely important, because there are no early symptoms. Fortunately, routine eye exams are a major factor in early detection. People with a family history of Glaucoma should be checked at regular intervals in their 30s to establish a baseline. Initially, detection is based often on intraocular pressure readings, but also includes observation of the optic nerve as well as evaluation of optic nerve function using visual field tests.

Is there any way to prevent Glaucoma?
No. But our suggestion would be to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, eat a healthy diet, keep your weight down, exercise, take nutritional products and be sure to see your eye specialist on a regular basis.

Is Glaucoma curable?
No. But to prevent blindness, it's important to undergo Glaucoma treatment.

What Glaucoma treatments are currently available?
Doctors usually prescribe special Glaucoma eye drops that reduce intraocular pressure. These are used one or several times a day, depending on the medication. If the drops don't work, surgery may be the next step. In some cases, laser or surgery might be the first option for treatment.

What is Squint (strabismus)?
Squint is a misalignment of the two eyes so that both the eyes are not looking in the same direction. This misalignment may be constant, being present throughout the day, or it may be intermitent, appear sometimes and the rest of the time the eyes may be straight.

It is a common condition among children. It may also occur in adults

What causes Squint?
The exact cause of Squint is not really known. The movement of each eye is controlled by six muscles. Each of these muscle acts along with its counterpart in the other eye to keep both the eyes aligned properly. A loss of coordination between the muscles of the two eyes leads to misalignment. This misalignment may be the same in all directions of gaze, or in some conditions the misalignment may be more in one direction of gaze, e.g., in Squint due to nerve palsy.

Sometimes a refractive error hypermetropia (long sight) may lead to inward deviation of the eye. Poor vision in an eye because of some other eye disease like cataract, etc. may also cause the eye to deviate. Therefore it is important in all the cases of Squint, especially in children, to have a thorough eye checkup to rule out any other cause of loss of vision.

What is binocular vision?
Under normal circumstances, when both the eyes have good vision and they are aligned properly, they focus on the same object. Each of the eyes sends picture of the same object, viewed from a slightly different angle. These two images reach the brain, where they are fused to form a single three-dimensional picture with depth perception. This is known as binocular single vision

What are the problems with Squint?
Under normal circumstances, when both the eyes have good vision and they are aligned properly, they focus on the same object. Each of the eyes sends picture of the same object, viewed from a slightly different angle. These two images reach the brain, where they are fused to form a single three-dimensional picture with depth perception. This is known as binocular single vision.

A child would ignore the image coming from the deviated eye and thus sees only one image. But in the process, he loses the depth perception. This suppression of the image from the deviating eye results in poor development of vision in this eye, which is known as amblyopia.

An adult can not ignore the image from either eye and therefore has double vision. This can be very annoying and may interfere with work.

What are the symptoms of Squint?
In a child, the parents may notice the deviation of eyes. It is important to remember that the eyes of a newborn are rarely aligned at birth. Most establish alignment at 3-4 weeks of age. Therefore Squint in any child who is more than one month old must be taken seriously and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist.

Adults may notice double vision or misalignment of the eyes.

How is Squint diagnosed?
The Squint is diagnosed by the ophthalmologist. He or she would do a few special tests to confirm the Squint, to try and find out the cause and to quantify the amount of deviation. In some cases there may be a false appearance of Squint due to broad nasal bridge in a child. An ophthalmologist will be able to differentiate between a true Squint and false Squint.

What is the treatment for Squint?
The aims of treatment of Squint in order of importance are:

• Preserve or restore vision
• Straighten the eyes
• Restore binocular vision
• First of all, the eyes are checked to see if they have any refractive error that may be responsible for Squint. If there is any significant refractive error present, it is treated first. In some cases (accommodative Squint) a correction of refractive error is all that may be required to treat Squint.

When should the Squint be treated?
In a child, the treatment of Squint and any associated amblyopia should be started as soon as possible. Generally speaking, the younger the age at which amblyopia is treated; the better is the chance of recovery of vision. Remember that the child would never grow out of Squint. A delay in treatment may decrease the chances of getting a good alignment and the vision.

Are glasses necessary?
Yes. Surgery can not replace the need for glasses. If the child has significant refractive error, glasses are a must. In some cases wearing glasses may correct Squint. In other cases, wearing glasses help the eyes to see clearly. This clear vision is very important for the treatment of amblyopia and also for maintaining the coordination of eyes, once they have been aligned by surgery.

What is the macula?
The central portion of the retina directly opposite the lens, is called the macula. It is rich in cones, the cells which enable us to see fine detail and color. There are three classes of cones, each most sensitive to a different color: red, green or blue.

In macular degeneration, the light-sensing cells of the macula mysteriously malfunction and may over time cease to work. Macular degeneration occurs most often in people over 60 years old, in which case it is called Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Much less common are several hereditary forms of macular degeneration, which usually affect children or teen-agers. Collectively, they are called Juvenile here do Macular Degeneration. They include Best's Disease, Stargardt's Disease, Sorsby's Disease and some others.

How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
The major symptoms of macular degeneration are:

• When viewing an Amsler grid, some straight lines appear wavy and some patches of the grid appear blank.
• When visual acuity is measured with a Snellen chart, visual acuity has typically declined by at least 2 lines (e.g. 20/20 - 20/80) if macular degeneration has occurred.
• In dry macular degeneration, drusen spots are evident in fundus photographs (i.e. photographs of the retina).
• In wet macular degeneration, when angiography is performed, leakage of the indicator dye into the bloodstream is seen from blood vessels behind the macula.
• When an electroretinogram is performed, the electrical signal obtained when a point in the macula is illuminated, is weaker or absent compared to a normal eye.
• Visual acuity and color sensitivity are similar for the three primary colors, red, green and blue.

What are dry and wet macular degeneration?
Laser photocoagulation is a technique used by ophthalmic surgeons to treat a number of conditions, including leakage from submacular neovascularizations. The laser beam essentially "cooks" the tissue which is exposed to it. The beam has a very small cross section, which is aimed at a leakage point revealed by angiography. With luck, the cooking, or coagulation, of the cells at the leakage point will stop or slow leakage, hence the progress of macular degeneration caused by the leakage. Only about half of patients with wet ARMD are candidates for laser photocoagulation, because those with occult or subfoveal leakage are not candidates. Also, laser photocoagulation is only effective about half the time it is done as a treatment for wet macular degeneration. When effective, the benefit lasts on the average about one year.

What is antivegf treatment?
These are the drugs injected into the vitreous to reduce the growth of new blood vessels. This is proved effective in wet ARMD.

What exactly is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which high blood sugar causes retinal blood vessels to swell and leak blood.(diabetic micro angiopathy)

Who's at the most risk for diabetic retinopathy?
Fluctuating blood sugar levels increase risk for this disease, as does long-term diabetes. Most people don't develop diabetic retinopathy until they've had diabetes for at least 10 years. However, adult onset (type 2) diabetics should be evaluated at the time of diagnosis and every year thereafter, whereas juvenile onset (type 1) diabetics should be evaluated every year after diagnosis.

Is there any way to prevent diabetic retinopathy?
Keeping your blood sugar at an even level can help to prevent diabetic retinopathy. If you have high blood pressure, keeping that under control is helpful as well. Even controlled diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, so you should have your eyes examined once a year; that way, your doctor can begin treating any retinal damage as soon as possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you might have no symptoms at all or you might have blurred vision. In the later stages, you develop cloudy vision, blind spots or floaters. But never assume that good vision means all is well in the retina. This can be misleading and leads to disaster.

What are the different types of diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is classified as either nonproliferative (background) or proliferative. Nonproliferative retinopathy is the early stage, where small retinal blood vessels break and leak.

In proliferative retinopathy, new blood vessels grow abnormally within the retina. This new growth can cause bleeding or a retinal detachment, which can lead to vision loss. The new blood vessels may also grow or bleed into the vitreous humor, the transparent gel filling the eyeball in front of the retina. Proliferative retinopathy is much more serious than the nonproliferative form and can lead to total blindness.

Is diabetic retinopathy curable?
No. Early treatment can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but is not likely to reverse any vision loss.

What diabetic retinopathy treatments are currently available?
The best treatment is to keep your diabetes under control; blood pressure control also helps. Your doctor may decide on laser photocoagulation to cause regression of leaking blood vessels and prevent new blood vessel growth. If blood gets into the vitreous humor, your doctor might want to perform a procedure called a vitrectomy.

How do I know when have a cataract?
The most common symptom is blurred vision. As the cataract develops, the progressive clouding can make night driving difficult by intensifying the reflection of lights. Symptoms differ from one person to the next. It depends on the type of cataract and how far it has progressed.

Can I have any other treatment for cataract?
Diet, medicine, eye drops or exercise have not been shown to retard or prevent the development of cataracts. A cataract does not result from using the eyes too much, or by reading in bad light.

When should I operate?
Ideally with modern methods, cataract can be removed at any stage, but it should be operated when it interferes with your daily life.

Should I wait till the cataract advances or matures?
With the modern technique of ?Phaco?, the cataract needs to be broken inside the eye. As the cataract advances it hardens making it difficult to remove by Phaco. Over-matured cataract can burst in the eye and result in complete loss of vision. Thus Phaco surgery needs to be done while the cataract is still soft.

Which is a good technique for surgery?
Phacoemulsification is a good technique with advantage of micro incision, no stitches, safer and faster recovery.

Which is a good lens?
Foldable lenses are good as they can be inserted through micro incision requiring only a small puncture. With advance optics foldable lenses the quality of vision especially at night and low light conditions is much better.

What special treatment does my eye require while healing?
Use drops as directed. Wear protective sunglasses whenever you are outside on sunny days if the glare causes discomfort. Avoid direct pressure on the eye ? don't rub or scratch the eye.

What precautions are to be taken after surgery?

• Avoid rubbing the eye or compression (while sleeping) for a month.
• Avoid dust, pollution and water entering the eyes for a month.
• Head baths should be avoided for 15 days.
• Follow the medication guideline strictly and maintain good eye hygiene.

Will I require glasses after surgery?
It depends on the eye and the healing responses of the body. Gross work can be done without glasses but fine work may require a visual aid.

When can I resume daily routine?
Daily routine work can be resumed after a rest of 2 days depending on the work environment. Dust, pollution and stressful conditions should be avoided.

What is Cataract?

• Gradual clouding or opacification of natural lens located behind the iris leading to gradual deterioration of vision.
• Natural lens is located behind coloured part of eye{iris} and works like a lens in the camera.

What are the causes of cataract?

• Ageing, trauma to the eye, use of tobacco {smoking}, alcohol, exposure to radiation, x-rays, uv light.
• Diseases of the glaucoma, uveitis, systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and use of cortico steroids.
• The new born, young children can develop Cataract due to Congenital, genetic disorders, trauma, pregnancy related problems.
• Hereditary factors play a role in age of on set of cataract.

What are the symptoms of cataract?
People affecting by the Cataract generally complains, blurring of vision – more during night while reading and driving, faded or dull colours, Sensitivity to light, Double vision and Watery feeling in the eyes

Why IOL is needed?
To restore focusing capacity of the eye as natural lens will be having +80D with +20D refractive power.

When Cataract is to be operated?
It can be operated in an early stage. Total maturity of Cataract is not mandatory to get operated. Decisions for surgery can be taken whenever daily routine activities are affected like reading, tv watching, computer, walking, driving etc.

What happens if Cataract is not operated?
Over the time, Cataract increase in density and causes blindness. Some times hyper maturity can result in dislocation of lens and inflammation in the eye ball, leading to severe pain the eyes.

Which is the best technology for Cataract surgery?
Phaco emulsification technique is the best technique pracitised world wide

Does the procedure hurt?
No. Usually done under topical anesthesia.

Can Cataract come back after surgery?
Once a Cataract has been removed it cannot recur. A condition called posterior capsular thickening or opacification can blur the vision which can be treated by a simple YAG laser procedure.

How successful is Cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery has an overall success rate of 98%. Continues innovations in techques and instruments have made the procedure safer.

When to resume to duty after the surgery?
Within couple of days with minimal discomfort people can start the routine. However, to be on the safer side better to resume to work after one week.

What is comprehensive eye checkup?
It means examination of the eyes which includes visual acuity testing for distance and near, refraction test to verify the glasses power for the eyes, slit lamp examination for observing the fine details of the eye by magnification, intraocular pressure (IOP) reading, and dilated fundus examination to examine the retina in detail. Colour vision and muscle balance test will be performed when ever required.

How to pickup vision problems in children?

• Whenever you observe child complaining difficulty in seeing words written on black board in the school,
• Making eye small or slit like while seeing distant object,
• Seeing with abonormal head postures and poor performance in studies, spelling mistakes,
• Frequent blinking
• Headache,
• Rubbing of eyes, & watering, it is better to perform refraction test

Will spectacles helps in reducing or stabilizing power?
No. It is only an aid to get clear vision.

What are the do’s don’ts following eye injuries?

• Do not attempt removing the foreign body by your self. This should be removed preferably by an eye specialist under microscope in sterile condition.
• Loosely attached particles can be removed by washing the eye in clean water.
• Avoid washing the eye with water as for as possible except in chemical burns.
• Please do not use hand kerchief for removal of foreign body and honey, castor oil, rose water, breast milk, eye cup with water should be avoided.
• Headache,
• Use only fresh antibiotic drops
• Do not apply the ointment and applicaps.
• Do not rub the eyes.
• Preferably bandage the eye

What should be done when there is a red eye problem?

• Avoid old eye drops, drops used by other members in the family
• Avoid home remedies
• Use eye drops advised by eye specialists
• Avoid touching the eye, rubbing and rolling eye in cup of water.
• Maintain lid margin hygiene
• Wash eyes with warm or clean cold water.
• But one should remember that not all red eyes are “madras” eyes. Apart from infections, allergy, inflammations, eye strain, dry eyes and sudden increase of IOP can also cause red eyes. Consulting an eye doctor is always essential.
• Do not rub the eyes.

What is Dry eye?

• Reduction in tear production, absence of tears due to various lacrimal gland disorders causes dry eye problems.
• When tear production is reduced osmalarity in tear film increases and it dries up the corneal surface cells and they fall leaving raw areas.

What are the reasons for dry eyes?

• Keratocojunctivitis SICCA
• Chronic lid margin infections
• Vitamin A deficiency in children
• Use of certain medicines {Sulpha}
• Chemical burns – Acid/Alkali
• Trachoma, bells palsy
• Temporary dryness with antihistamines, diuretics, harmones

What is computer vision syndrome and how to treat it?

• Computer vision syndrome means transient blurring of vision due to inadequate wetting of cornea which is caused due to reduced blink rate while staring at the monitor.
• Use of tear substitutes helps in keeping the eye ball wet. Better to use preservative free eye drops.
• Take a break every half an hour for 5 minutes.
• Blink 10 -14 times a minute for 5 minutes.
• Keep the monitor below the level of your eyes.
• Avoid glare on the monitor.
• Avoid AC wind and fan blowing directly on the face.
• Use antiglare coated glasses.

Why I should get the eye checkup done when there is frequent headache?
Refractive error like Long sight, Astigmatism presbiyopia, Convergence and accomadation weakness, diseases of eye like Glaucoma, inflammation, Papilloedema, should be kept in mind when ever person suffers from headache.

What procedures I should follow while putting the eye drops?

• Lie down and look at the ceiling or sit down and tilt your head back.
• Pull down your lower lid with index finger making a pocket.
• Look up and squeeze a drop into the pocket. Do not blink or wipe the eye.
• Do not touch the tip of the bottle to your eyes, fingers or face. Close the eye for two minutes. A second drop can be put after that, if needed.