LENS IMPLANTTwenty five years ago the usual treatment for cataracts was removal of the clouded lens followed by wearing glasses with very thick lenses, while presbyopia required the use of reading glasses. Today, due to the amazing advancements in IOL technology, a patient can hope for and achieve good to excellent vision quality from a lens implant without the need for glasses at all. A lens implant or intraocular lens (IOL) is an implanted synthetic lens that replaces the eye's natural lens.Depending on the type selected, an IOL can also correct the eye's existing refractive error (nearsightedness or farsightedness) and a patient who has received an IOL can still have his or her vision further improved with laser vision correction.The type of lifestyle IOL determines the quality of vision improvement. MONOFOCAL IOLMonofocal IOLs are the 'standard' or conventional type of lifestyle IOL. By definition, a monofocal IOL provides good vision correction for one distance only. The power of the lens is pre-calculated for each individual, generally for far vision. However, some patients, with their doctor's recommendation, may choose to correct for near vision. If corrected for far vision, glasses for reading will still be needed and patients with astigmatism may still require glasses to sharpen their distance vision.MULTIFOCAL IOLMultifocal IOLs provide vision correction at all distances. Multifocal IOLs are more costly and generally not fully covered by insurance, but are frequently preferred over monofocal IOLs because they can reduce or completely eliminate the need for reading glasses.PRESBYOPIAThe surgical procedure for presbyopia is essentially the same as for cataracts and offers a permanent solution to the effects of this cause of impaired vision.The direct translation of presbyopia is "elder eye". This condition is due to the loss of flexibility of the natural lens of the eye.As a person ages beyond his or her 40s, the lens gradually becomes more rigid and the eye muscles can no longer flex enough to focus for close-up vision. In the past, presbyopia was usually addressed with bifocal lenses, reading glasses, or monovision contact lenses.Common symptoms of presbyopia are:1. Difficulty reading fine print, particularly in low light conditions2. Eyestrain when reading for long periods3. Blurred near vision4. Difficulty transitioning between viewing distances from close to far5. The feeling that your arms have become "too short" to hold reading material at a comfortable distance THE PROCEDURE More than three million cataract surgeries are performed in each year. Cataract surgery is considered one of the safest and most effective of all medical procedures.The virtually painless procedure usually takes 15-30 minutes. The surgeon makes a small incision at or near the cornea and removes the cloudy or inflexible lens. The new lens (IOL) is then inserted into its permanent position.The most advanced type of surgical procedure – and the one performed at Vatsal eye care – is called phacoemulsification, which does not require needles or stitches.With this advanced technique the affected lens is removed and replaced with an IOL. Clear vision is restored and the eye heals rapidly. More than 97% of patients who undergo phacoemulsification experience no complications at all.Patients can usually return to their normal activities the following day.Contrary to popular myth a cataract does not have to be "ripe" before it is removed.You should consider having surgery if cataracts make it hard for you to see wellenough to do the things you enjoy.Understanding cataracts What is a cataract?Some vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism affect us from birth because they are related to irregularities of the cornea. Others, like the development of cataracts, slowly creep up on us as we age.A cataract is a"clouding" of the eye's natural lens, which results in blurred or defocused vision. Cataracts are often described as looking through wax paper or cloudy cellophane. People with cataracts also have color differentiation issues and may not be able to tell the difference between two black socks. In most cases cataract surgery is required where the natural lens is replaced with a man made lens, often referred to as IOL or intraocular lens. This surgery is highly successful and has been drastically improved over the years.WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF CATARACT?1. Blurred or cloudy vision2. Colors appear faded or dull3. Lamps such as headlights or streetlights have glare or halos; sunlight may appear too bright4. Poor night vision5. Double or multiple vision in one eye; this effect may disappear as the cataract grows6. Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lensesImportant Note: These symptoms can indicate other eye problems that may also result in blindness if left untreated. If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment with Vatsal eye care immediately for a complete eye examination. WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM CATARACT SURGERY?Cataract surgery is almost always highly successful. Over 90% of patients who have the surgery enjoy improved vision. Many patients find that their vision improvement begins immediately and they can often resume normal activities within hours after surgery.Some find their vision better than ever after the procedure, while others may need to wear glasses for reading (known as Presbyopia) and other activities.During the initial healing period there may be a few limitations on strenuous activities, but most people can return to normal life quickly. They are surprised to find that they can also engage in activities that were once off-limits due to cataracts, such as reading and social activities. Of course, there is some risk with any surgery, and a perfect result, no matter how likely, cannot be guaranteed. Make sure you discuss the surgery in detail with us, and get all of your questions answered. At Vatsal eye care, we welcome and encourage our patients' questions. WHAT CAUSES CATARACT?Researchers believe that there are several causes:1. Aging2. Diabetes3. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light4. Exposure to radiation5. Hypertension6. Smoking7. Alcohol abuse8. Eye injuries9. Genetic factors (a parent or grandparent who had cataracts)In the early stages of cataracts, one sees colors less vibrantly. In the later stages, the lens becomes almost opaque and has to be replaced with a clear artificial lens. This procedure is called refractive lens exchange.Currently, there are no medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses that willcause cataracts to disappear. Cataracts can only be treated surgically.THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR PEOPLE WITH CATARACTS!With treatment, most can enjoy better!!

RETINA CLINICThe retina is the innermost nerve layer that lines the back of the eye. Many ophthalmologists compare this to the film of a camera. The retina is responsible for processing the images projected onto it and then the optic nerve transmits this to the brain. The retina is susceptible to many types of diseases that we will detail in the web pages of this section. What is a retina specialist? A retina specialist is a medical doctor trained as an ophthalmologist, who has received additional fellowship training in diseases and surgery of the vitreous and retina. As mentioned previously, the retina is a very sensitive part of the eye that requires special attention when in danger. Damage to your retina can cause blindness. Much of the treatment work done by retina specialists involves: macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, retinal detachments, uveitis, and flashes or floaters. Dr Pritam Dedhia has immense experience in this stream and is highly skilled in handling any Vitreoretinal disorders. What are the common problems associated with the retina?1. Retinal Detachment2. Macular Degeneration3. Diabetic Eye Disease4. Flashes & Floaters5. Macular Edema6. Retinitis Pigmentosa What do I do if I have been told I have issues with the retina?The retina is one of the most sensitive parts of the eye. If you have been told that you have retina eye problems or have been told that you have macular degeneration, macular edema, diabetic eye disease, or a retinal detachment you will have to seek the immediate retina specialist. A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless it is treated. As a person's normal eye ages the vitreous gel contracts and then becomes more liquid. As the vitreous gel becomes more liquid it may pull on the retina and create a retinal tear (and then tear.) When fluid passes through a tear, it will lift the retina from the back of the eye creating (making) a retinal detachment. Your eye doctor has ways to assess your risk for developing glaucoma and can prescribe treatments to help prevent or delay vision loss if you have glaucoma.

GLAUCOMAThe sneak thief of sightGlaucoma, often called the "sneak thief of sight," is a disease that strikes without any obvious symptoms. You usually don't even know it's there until serious vision loss has occurred. And unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. Once you have lost your vision, it can't be restored. The good news is that glaucoma can be detected early before there is any loss of vision. Plus, there are convenient treatments that can lower intraocular pressure (IOP), one of the major risk for glaucoma. The key to managing diseases that cause vision loss are early diagnosis, proper treatment, and regular eye exams. Why is glaucoma the main suspect?Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve which sends visual signals to the brain. No one knows exactly what causes this damage, but pressure buildup in the eye is proven to be one of the major risk factors associated with glaucoma . When the optic nerve gets damaged by high IOP, some signals from the eye aren't transmitted tothe brain. This can result in visual field loss, and if not managed, could eventually lead to blindness.There are several different types of glaucoma. The most common is called open angle glaucoma which accounts for about 80% of all cases. It develops slowly over time, usually after the age of 40. Patients with this type of glaucoma may experience a gradual narrowing of their peripheral vision, which many call "tunnel vision," or areas of vision loss.Why is IOP (Intraocular pressure) such an important clue?The front of the eye is filled with a liquid called the aqueous humor. This is produced by the eye to bathe and nourish its different parts. The aqueous humor normally flows out of the eye through various paths and chambers. When these paths get clogged aqueous humor gets trapped in the eye. This causes a pressure build up and leads to high IOP.Doctors can easily measure IOP, and use it as an important clue in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Normal IOP is about 12 to 22 mm Hg. One of the most common and important tests for meausuring IOP is Tonometry. Tonometry is a procedure in which your doctor uses a tonometer to measure IOP. This test is important because high IOP is a major risk factor for glaucoma. However, high IOP doesn't necessarily mean you will have glaucoma, nor does normal IOP mean you don't have glaucoma. Controlling IOP is the major goal of glaucoma therapy. When IOP is controlled, the optic nerve is less at risk of being damaged, so vision may be preserved.Could I become a victim?Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of preventable blindness. One out of every five sufferers has a close relative with it. Could you be one of these people? Only your doctor can help you find out, but some people are at greater risk than others. Studies have proven that anyone who meets one or more of the following criteria is at increased risk: If you have any of these risk factors, it is important that you get regular eye checkups. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma can slow the disease's progression and help prevent blindness.How can glaucoma be stopped?It's awfully hard to stop glaucoma completely, but we have years of research that shows that treating the disease early helps preserve vision. The primary effect of any glaucoma treatment is lowering IOP. This has been proven over the years to be an effective way to help prevent or slow down vision loss in glaucoma patients. IOP canbe lowered with medication and/or surgery. In most cases, medication is used before surgery, which is often reserved for patients who haven't responded adequately to or are intolerant of medications. Most glaucoma patients instil eye drops to keep their eye pressures at a safe level. A patient may be on one, two or more different glaucoma eye drops. Laser treatment (laser trabeculoplasty) is a very safe and generally painless way to treat glaucoma and should be considered for all newly diagnosed cases of glaucoma. Successful laser treatment can keep the eye pressure down for many years without requiring eye drops. (The laser used is very different from the laser used to allow people to manage without glasses.) Surgery is also used to treat glaucoma: it is employed when the eye pressure cannot be controlled by drops and laser, and when patients cannot tolerate eye drops. Having glaucoma means that you must have a life-long association with your ophthalmologist. The disease can be controlled but not cured, and it is essential that patients are seen regularly (for most this is six monthly). The best way to control glaucoma and preserve your vision is through early detection and treatment.Glaucoma is often referred to as "the sneak thief of sight" because it strikes without any obvious symptoms. Luckily, your doctor, who is a great detective, has tools to catch the early warning signs of glaucoma. If you have any of the risk factors for glaucoma or are over age 40, you should schedule an exam with an eye care professional.