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A cataract is a clouding of the eye's
lens that prevents light from properly reaching the retina
(the back of the eye). Cataracts
are associated with blurry, foggy, and hazy vision, with frequent
eyeglass prescription changes, and with sensitivity to glare
and halos. Phacoemulsification is a surgical procedure that
is used to treat cataracts in order to produce clearer vision.
Cataract surgery removes the
natural, cloudy lens of the eye and replaces it with an intraocular
lens (IOL). Phacoemulsification is the most advanced type
of cataract surgery, because it uses only a small incision
and does not usually require stitches. The
phacoemulsification procedure uses a tiny ultrasonic probe
to break up the cataract before it is suctioned away. The
clear lens capsule is left in place. Once the cataract has
been removed, the intraocular lens is placed within the eye.
The IOL helps to focus light on the retina. Most patients
can expect good vision soon after having cataract surgery
performed. Recovery time is short - most patients can resume
their regular activities soon after surgery.
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During cataract surgery, the lens
capsule at the back of the eye is left in place. The
capsule helps to hold the intraocular lens in position. In
some cases, however, the capsule itself may become cloudy
and impair vision. If this occurs, a posterior capsulotomy
can help to restore good vision.
Posterior capsulotomy is a
surgical procedure in which a laser is used to create an opening
in the cloudy capsule. The opening
allows light to pass through the capsule and focus clearly
on the retina. Posterior capsulotomy is generally safe and
painless. In rare cases, complications such as increased eye
pressure or retinal detachment can cause vision loss. Normally,
however, good vision should return within hours of having
the procedure performed.
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Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation, or the "laser" is a powerful
tool in ophthalmology. A laser device
that emits a highly focused beam of single-wavelength light,
produced by sending electromagnetic energy through certain,
specific substances. Lasers can be used to treat many eye
diseases with accuracy and reliability.
By using different wavelengths
of light, lasers can be used to ablate only specified tissues,
leaving surrounding areas unharmed. Lasers have the ability
to work with microscopic precision.
There are several types of
lasers used by ophthalmologists. One is the thermal laser,
which translates light energy into heat. It is useful for
cauterizing blood vessels and removing abnormal tissue growth.
Another type of laser is the photoablative laser, which effectively
removes and sculpts tissue. This type of laser is ideal for
reshaping the surface of the eye. Finally, the excimer laser
is used for refractive surgery-it is used to correct nearsightedness,
farsightedness, and astigmatism. Refractive surgery is a popular
means of reducing dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses.
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Diabetic retinopathy is a disease
that affects the blood vessels in the eyes of diabetics.
It can cause vessels on the retina (retina- lining the inside
back of the eye, responsible for recording visual images and
sending them to the brain ) to bleed and form scar tissue.
In its later stages, diabetic retinopathy causes new blood
vessels to proliferate on the retina. These, too, can cause
damage by leaking and forming scar tissue.
Laser eye surgery can successfully
treat diabetic retinopathy and preserve vision for those who
suffer from the disease. Diabetic
retinopathy is treated with a special type of thermal laser,
the Argon laser. The Argon laser can seal off bleeding vessels
and minimize the growth of new vessels on the retina.
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Glaucoma is the leading
cause of blindness in the U.S. Glaucoma causes vision loss by
damaging optic nerve fibers in the eye.
It is almost always caused by high intraocular pressure that
occurs when fluid cannot effectively drain from the eye. There
are two forms of the disease: chronic open angle glaucoma and
angle closure glaucoma.
Lasers can be used
to treat both types of glaucoma. For patients with angle closure
glaucoma, the Argon and YAG lasers can create a new opening
that allows fluid to drain from the eye. Allowing fluid
to drain is a crucial to relieving high eye pressure and preserving
vision. The Argon laser can also be used to open clogged drainage
pathways in chronic open angle glaucoma patients. Again, allowing
fluid to leave the eye helps reduce high intraocular pressure
and may preserve sight.
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