New cataract procedure to minimise pain, recovery time
Ten-minute technique allows Al Ain Hospital to handle more patients
Al Ain: A new procedure to remove eye cataracts without the need for injections and stitches has been introduced at Al Ain Hospital, making the procedure less painful for patients.
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens or in the cornea. It is a common disease and around 250 cataract operations are performed annually at Al Ain Hospital.
"With this new procedure our doctors are able to eliminate painful local anaesthesia injections, minimise surgical wounds and also reduce the recovery time significantly for patients by discharging them the same day," said George Jepson, chief executive of Al Ain Hospital.
He said cataract surgery is traditionally done under local anaesthesia. This involves injecting local anaesthetics behind or along the sides of the eyeball and another injection by the side of the eyelid to temporarily paralyse the eyelids. An antibiotic injection is also administered on the surface of the eye at the end of the operation. The wound after the traditional cataract surgery is often large and requires stitches.
Ultrasonic probe
The new technology, said Jepson, removes cataracts in just 10 minutes using an ultrasonic probe through a tiny 2.75 millimetre-self-sealing incision and without the need for any injections or stitches. The hospital also has the latest technology for calculating intra-ocular lens power through a non-touch technique.
Dr Dinesh Nair, consultant and head of ophthalmology at the hospital, said a vast majority of cataract cases will now utilise this minimally invasive, small incision technique, therefore freeing up hospital capacity to handle more patients.
"With this new procedure patients get excellent visual recovery the very next day," he added.
Since the incision is small, there is less corneal distortion relative to the old technique in addition to practically zero-wound-related complications.
Patients admitted for cataract surgery can go home the same day after surgery. This new procedure is completely free for Daman and Thiqa card holders, he said.
