The Future of Cataract Surgery: What’s on the Horizon?

catract

Cataract surgery has come a long way since its inception, with significant advancements in technology and surgical techniques. As the world population continues to age, the prevalence of cataracts is increasing, creating a pressing need for innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. In this blog, we will explore the future of cataract surgery and the exciting developments that are on the horizon.

  • Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

Laser-assisted cataract surgery (LACS) has already gained popularity in recent years and is expected to become even more prevalent in the future. LACS utilizes femtosecond lasers to perform key steps of the cataract surgery, such as corneal incisions, anterior capsulotomy, and lens fragmentation. This technology offers precise and reproducible results, potentially reducing complications and improving refractive outcomes. As the technology evolves, we can anticipate advancements in laser systems, further enhancing the safety and efficacy of cataract surgery.

Laser-assisted cataract surgery

  • Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are revolutionizing various fields of medicine, and cataract surgery is no exception. AI algorithms can assist in preoperative planning, predicting intraoperative complications, and postoperative management. By analyzing patient data and surgical outcomes, AI can help surgeons make informed decisions and personalize treatment plans for optimal results. Additionally, robotic systems may become more prominent, aiding surgeons in performing delicate maneuvers with enhanced precision and stability, ultimately improving surgical outcomes and patient safety.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

  • Advanced Intraocular Lenses

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are artificial lenses implanted during cataract surgery to replace the clouded natural lens. Currently, monofocal IOLs are the most commonly used, providing good distance vision but often requiring glasses for near tasks. However, advanced multifocal and accommodating IOLs are emerging as exciting alternatives. Multifocal IOLs offer patients the potential for clear vision at various distances, reducing the need for glasses. Accommodating IOLs are designed to mimic the eye’s natural focusing mechanism, allowing for improved near and distance vision. As research and development progress, we can expect more sophisticated IOL designs that optimize vision quality and patient satisfaction.

Intraocular lenses (IOLs)

  • Non-Invasive Treatment Options

While cataract surgery is highly effective, some individuals may not be suitable candidates due to certain medical conditions or advanced age. Therefore, the development of non-invasive treatment options for cataracts is an area of active research. Non-surgical interventions, such as pharmacological agents or targeted therapies, may slow down or prevent cataract progression, delaying or even eliminating the need for surgery. Although these treatments are still in the experimental stages, they hold great promise for the future, potentially providing alternatives to surgical intervention.

 

  • Enhanced Postoperative Recovery

Postoperative recovery after cataract surgery has already improved significantly, with most patients experiencing minimal discomfort and quick visual rehabilitation. However, ongoing efforts are focused on further enhancing postoperative recovery. This includes the development of new medications and technologies to reduce inflammation, accelerate corneal wound healing, and optimize visual outcomes. Additionally, telemedicine and remote monitoring systems may play a crucial role in postoperative care, allowing patients to receive follow-up consultations and monitoring from the comfort of their homes.

The Future of Cataract Surgery: 

The future of cataract surgery is filled with exciting prospects, driven by advancements in technology, surgical techniques, and medical research. Laser-assisted cataract surgery, AI-assisted decision-making, and robotic systems will likely become more prevalent, improving surgical precision and patient outcomes. Advanced intraocular lenses offer the potential for personalized vision correction, while non-invasive treatments may provide alternatives to surgery. Enhanced postoperative recovery strategies and remote monitoring systems will further optimize patient care and convenience.

As the field of ophthalmology continues to advance, collaboration between surgeons, engineers, and researchers will be crucial in pushing the boundaries of cataract surgery. Clinical trials and long-term studies will help validate the safety and efficacy of emerging technologies and techniques, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.

However, it’s important to note that with any technological advancements, there may be challenges and ethical considerations to address. Affordability and accessibility of these innovative treatments should be a priority to ensure that all patients, regardless of their economic background, can benefit from these advancements.

In conclusion, the future of cataract surgery is promising, with ongoing developments that aim to improve patient outcomes, enhance visual quality, and streamline the surgical process. Laser-assisted surgery, artificial intelligence, advanced intraocular lenses, non-invasive treatments, and enhanced postoperative recovery strategies are just a glimpse of what’s on the horizon. By embracing these advancements and fostering collaboration, we can look forward to a future where cataract surgery becomes even more precise, personalized, and patient-centric, ultimately improving the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide.

How Can We Safely Use Contact Lenses?

How the generation has evolved, just like Television went from Box shaped to Slim Edged screens, Cars went from Manual to automatic and now driverless. In the same way Eye-world, Spectacles have evolved into Contact lenses. Now no more worrying about spectacles marks on the edges of the eye, no more tension to clear glasses during rain etc.

Contact lenses are one of the best inventions in the eye-care industry, but only if we use them safely. Here are some safety tips for using contact lenses.

1. Always wash your hands with soap before applying the contact lens and before removing the contact lens.

2. Avoid Sleeping when you are wearing contact lenses.

While sleeping, the amount of oxygen reaching our eyes is less than when we are active. There are more chances of infection as germs are present in closed eyelids, and risk of an eye infection.

3. Never use Saline/Tap water for cleaning Contact lenses.

It is a myth that it might clean your contact lenses, but it does not. Always use the recommended solution for the prescribed contact lens by your eye surgeon. Ask your eye doctor if you need clarification about what to use to disinfect your contact lenses. You can also connect with Iksha Eye Care, the best optometrist in Mumbai.

4. Say NO to ‘Top-up’/ Using the expired Contact Lens Solution.

There are other ways to save money, but not this way. Once you use the solution, its disinfection power has taken off the bid. Every time you use the lenses, always use a fresh solution, and adding new solutions over old ones is also not recommended. After opening the solution, use it before 90 days (discard date), irrespective of the labeled expiry date.

5. Take off your Lenses while Swimming/entering public or private pools.

Have you ever heard about Acanthamoeba? It is an opportunistic pathogen and a host. It is present in every waterbody from Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Ponds, Water Taps, and Hot water Pools. If this pathogen shakes its hand with your Contact lenses, Acanthamoeba Keratitis is an eye disease that it causes, which can cause fulminant infection of the cornea.

6. Consistently replace your Contact lens case.

Everything needs to be replaced, just like how you all replace your toothbrush, hair combs, and body cleaners. Same way, cases of your contact lenses need to be replaced.

7. Be cautious when they are irritating your eyes/excessively watering.

We should not consider anything which causes irritation or discomfort to us. Whether contact lenses or anything else. It can cause your eyes a corneal injury or infection or lead to blood vessels growing over the cornea, which can permanently affect your vision.

8. Do not use saliva for wetting contact lenses, as the mouth carries a lot of germs.

9. Dailies mean “One Day Use” Only.

Whenever you buy a Daily Disposable lens, we request you discard it after using it for one day. If you discard bread, biscuits and other food items, similarly discard these “One-day” lenses. If you’re looking for a place to buy contact lenses, Iksha Eye Care is the contact lens clinic in Mumbai.

10. Do not use any over-the-counter medication for reducing redness due to contact lenses – An eye specialist should prescribe only preservative-free lubricating eye drops.

11. Contact your eye doctor if you experience – red, painful eyes sensitive to light accompanied by visible discharge and blurry vision. Consult one of Mumbai’s ‘best cornea specialists‘ at Iksha Eye Care.

DO BLUE CUT OR BLUE BLOCK GLASSES HELP WITH DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?

Do you experience itchy and irritated eyes at the end of a long day in front of your computer screen? You are surely not the only one with such eye problems. Approximately 6 in 10 individuals experience symptoms of digital eye strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), after using a computer screen for more than 2 hours. Definitive symptoms of digital eye strain include headaches towards the end of the day, dry eye, frequent blinking of eyes with intermittent blurry vision. Wearing glasses with a blue-cut filter can help in reducing these symptoms to some extent.

Blue-cut or Blue-block glasses have a special coating that effectively absorbs and blocks harmful high-energy blue light from entering the eyes. These special lenses protect your eyes from the blue light from computer screens and smartphones. Blue-cut glasses can be an excellent addition to your existing eye health regimen if you work on a digital screen for at least two hours daily.

If you’re looking for the correct guidance on the best spectacle prescription in Mumbai, look no further than Iksha Eye Care, Mumbai.

How does blue light affect us?

The wavelength of blue light:

Blue light is a type of visible light on the light spectrum, and it has a relatively shorter wavelength of 415 to 455 nanometers. Because of this, blue light rays contain more energy than other light types called High Energy Visible (HEV) light which is responsible for causing eye strain.

Health-related effects of blue light from smartphones/tablets/computer screens etc

  • Frequent blinking of eyes and intermittent blurring, which get worse as the day progresses
  • Dry and itchy eyes
  • Redness/watering/tendency to rub the eyes
  • Eye tiredness
  • Frequent headaches
  • Sleep disturbances or difficulty in falling asleep

What likely benefits of wearing blue-cut lenses?

  1. Reduce eye strain especially accompanied by frequent intervals of the screen-free period (20 seconds) after every 20 minutes of screen time, popularly known as the 20-20-20 rule.
  2. Though blue light is present in the sun’s rays during the day, it is less pronounced around night, which is why sunsets appear red. The lack of blue light in the evening allows the body to produce melatonin freely (sleep hormone), signalling it is time to prepare for sleep. Exposure to blue light from electronic devices or artificial lighting after the sun has gone down can disrupt our circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep or get a good night’s rest. Blue-cut lenses help in the body’s release of melatonin (hormone) which helps induce sleep. As a recommendation, we should avoid using smartphones/computer screens at least 2 hours before bedtime.
  3. It can help delay the degenerative effects on the retina, which is yet to be proven by research.

How to choose the right blue-cut lens glasses?

Talk to your optometrist. If you need to know whether blue-cut lenses are right for you, schedule an appointment with the best optometrist in Mumbai. Your vision specialist will be able to evaluate the damage caused by blue light and discuss other types of eyewear that might be more appropriate for your lifestyle.

Some helpful tips to avoid digital eye strain –

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule with frequent short-duration breaks from the screen.
  • Avoid eye rubbing
  • Use good preservative-free lubricating eye drops, which can keep the tear film well distributed.
  • Avoid using digital screens like smartphones at least 2 hours before sleep.
  • Protect your eyes from over-exposure to blue light due to screen by using reputed blue light-blocking glasses.

What Should We Eat To Keep Our Eyes Healthy?

The significance of eye care is often underrated. This is one of the important aspects of human existence. Just like any other body part, the eyes need nurturing too. There are many remedies for the eyes to keep them healthy. One of the effective measures to keep them healthy is by adopting a nutritious diet. This eliminates most of the eyesight issues and will ensure healthy eyes. In this article, we are going to list down some of the effective measures that you must include in your daily diet. Let’s explore the list of nutritious foods that will help you achieve healthy eyesight.

Below we’ve mentioned 5 nutrient-rich foods

Have a glance at the 5 nutrient-rich foods that are vital for healthy eyesight. These will help you have a clearer vision. Moreover, these food items are also recommended by doctors.

Fish

Fishes are a rich source of omega-3. This must be included in your diet to nurture your eyes for healthy eyesight. There are an array of advantages to including this in your daily diet. Fishes contain healthy omega-3 and fatty acids. This is one of the effective solutions to cure eyesight issues.

These are the fishes that contain the most beneficial levels of omega-3.

  • Mackerel
  • Sardines
  • Anchovies
  • Herring
  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Trout

We highly recommend you include these fish in your daily diet. As per the study, these fishes will help you cope with eye dryness. Hence, it is extremely healthy to add this to your diet chart.

Nuts and legumes

Nuts are also rich in omega and fatty acids. It is vital to add them to your regular diet plan. Moreover, these nuts and legumes also contain vitamin E. As per studies, this is an ideal remedy for aging eye damage. This is considered to be one of the easiest ways to get rid of aging eye damage.

Protein-rich nuts:

  • Walnuts
  • Brazil nuts
  • Cashews
  • Peanuts
  • Lentils

Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin and also are a good source of vitamin C. These are one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy.

Nutrition-rich green leafy vegetables:

  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Collards

Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of vitamins C, E, and Zinc. It is widely used to cut off the risk factors relevant to eye-related sight loss. Hence, carrots must be included in your daily routine.

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamin A. It is a well-known fact that vitamin A plays a vital role in having a healthy vision. It is essential to have sufficient vitamin A for clear eyesight. Carrots are rich in protein and beta carotene. There is a component of a protein called rhodopsin, which helps the retina to absorb light.

Seeds

Just like nuts, seeds are a rich source of omega-3 and a rich source of vitamin E. These seeds are mostly available in online grocery stores or usual stores. The nutrient-rich seeds are:

  • Chia seeds
  • Flax seeds
  • Hemp seeds

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C. For healthy and clear eyesight, it is essential to have a sufficient amount of vitamin E and C in the body. Moreover, vitamin C helps fight age-related problems.

Vitamin C-rich citrus fruits:

  • Lemons
  • Oranges
  • Grapefruits

These things can eliminate many eyesight problems. It is 100% advisable to include these edibles in your diet. Moreover, if there is any severe eyesight issue, adequate guidance by professionals can solve the problems. Get your eye issues treated at Iksha eyecare, the best eye hospital in Andheri, Mumbai