Cataract | Pearl Eye - Process

You should plan around 3-4 hours for the the procedure, although the actual operation only lasts approx. 20 minutes. If possible, the patient should be accompanied by an escort. As a rule, the operation can be conducted as an outpatient operation. Should this not be possible due to your personal situation or something similar, the in-patient stay usually lasts 2-3 days.⁵ Because only local anaesthetic is used in most cases, the patient can take in light fare on the day of treatment. If desired, an analgesic can be administered.

As a rule, the two eyes are handled separately from one another. After the administration of local anaesthetic next to or behind the eyeball, the surgeon begins with a millimeter-sized cut on the front edge of the lens capsule. In the currently most common form of cataract operation, the so-called phacoemulsification procedure, the next step involves the liquefaction or disintegration of the hard core of the lens with the aid of high frequency sound waves. The lens is then extracted using suction along with the softer lens cortex. The anterior capsule of the lens remains in the eye.

In some cases, mechanical removal of the lens core is performed prior to lens cortex suction extraction (extra-capsular lens removal - extra-capsular cataract extraction or ECCE).⁶ The new lens is then installed over the small incision previously made. If a lens made of soft material is being used, this is is folded and directly inserted as is. In the case of a hard lens made of plexiglas, the incision may need to be enlarged. The elastic brackets on the edge of the new lens guarantee its secure foothold.

Standard lenses possess refractive powers that allow the patient to see clearly either at close range, into the distance, or at a middle distance. In addition, there exist specialty lenses with multiple functions.

Your doctor can explain the advantages and disadvantages of this method, your personal treatment plan, and your individual suitability for this treatment method including the corresponding lenses in a private conversation.