Eye surgery in India is one of the highly growing sectors in medical tourism. Several hospitals and clinics are now fully equipped to handle the inflow of patients from the West with latest technology, highly trained doctors and of course, customized treatment for every patient. Spectacles are cosmetically unappealing for some. There is a degree of distortion when looking through the periphery of the glasses, the field of vision is reduced and on leaving a cold room moisture can fog the glasses and blur vision for a few minutes. Hence glasses are unacceptable for certain careers. Contact lenses require motivation with great attention to hygiene during insertion and removal failing which sight - threatening infections may result.



What is Phacoemulsification Surgery?

Phacoemulsification cataract surgery is a procedure in which an ultrasonic device is used to break up and then remove a cloudy lens, or cataract, from the eye to improve vision. The insertion of an intraocular lens (IOL) usually immediately follows phacoemulsification.

Who is a candidate for phacoemulsification Surgery?

Most people suffering from cataracts will benefit from this procedure. Best results are obtained in persons with early cataracts. It is preferable not to wait until the cataract is ripe and vision is excessively low since the cataract will be too hard for the phacoemulsifier. Surgery is indicated as soon as vision is not adequate for daily activities.

Pre-operative preparations for phacoemulsification Surgery?

No special preparation is needed for phacoemulsification surgery. Ophthalmologist should make sure there are no associated pathologies, which can interfere with the prognosis, by making an extensive examination of patient's eyes including pupil dilation. A measurement of patient's eye's length and corneal curvature is crucial for calculating the power of the intraocular lens to be implanted.

Procedure for Phacoemulsification Surgery:

In phacoemulsification cataract surgery, the surgeon makes a very small incision -- about 1/8th of an inch -- in the white of the eye near the outer edge of the cornea. A small ultrasonic probe is inserted through this opening and, oscillating at 40,000 cycles per minute, is used to break up (emulsify) the cataract into tiny pieces. The emulsified material is simultaneously suctioned from the eye by the open tip of the same instrument. The hard central core of the cataract (the nucleus) is removed first, followed by extraction of the softer, peripheral cortical fibers that make up the remainder of the lens. The front (anterior) section of the lens capsule is removed along with the fragments of the natural lens. The back (posterior) portion of the capsule is left in place to hold and maintain the correct position for the implanted intraocular lenses.

After removal of the cataract, a prescription intraocular lens, or IOL, is permanently implanted in the lens capsule to replace the natural crystalline lens of the eye that was removed during the surgery. This lens is rolled inside a tiny hollow tube and inserted through the same incision that was used to remove the cataract. The folded lens is pushed out of the tube by a tiny plunger and, as it unfolds, is positioned by the surgeon in the center of the lens capsule. The new lens is held in place by microscopic, spring-like wires that are attached to the implant.

Post-operative care for Phacoemulsification Surgery?

The tiny incision made during phacoemulsification surgery generally requires no stitches and heals itself in a few days. Antibiotic and steroid eye drops may be given to diminish inflammation, to prevent infection, and to keep the eye moistened for several days following surgery.

It is important not to squeeze eye the first couple of days after surgery. Normally there will be some foreign body sensation, similar to having an eyelash in patient's eye. No bandages are required so the patient walks out of the operating room by his own means even though vision will be blurry for 2 or 3 days. Eye drops will be prescribed for 2 to 3 weeks. Two weeks after the surgery patient will be able to perform any activity without risk.

What are the advantages of Phacoemulsification over routine extra capsular surgery?

In a conventional surgery the incision required is larger (10-12 mm) and requires stitches for closing. This larger incision takes 6-8 weeks to heal. Moreover, the stitches can cause distortion of the normal curvature of the cornea (the clear part of eye) and thus lead to astigmatism and blurred vision because of this.

Essentially all the advantages of phacoemulsification are because of small incision, which is self-sealing. The wound is more stable and the chances of wound complications are minimized. The patients can resume their normal activity faster as compared to conventional extra capsular surgery. The wound healing is faster and more predictable, and therefore glasses can be prescribed much earlier as compared to the conventional surgery. The patient requires less follow up visits for checkups. As the incision is small and in many cases stitches are not required, the cornea does not get distorted and therefore the chances of significant astigmatism are minimized.

Phacoemulsification surgery in India:

Phacoemulsification surgery is gaining popularity in India both among the public as well as among ophthalmologists. Today, the highest international quality of eye care for cornea, cataract, squint and glaucoma is available in over 40 centres all over India. When it comes to reliability, India has the best ophthalmic surgeons with clinico-academic expertise honed to perfection in the best possible institutions. Over the few decades, India has made name for itself in the field of eye. The cost difference for most eye care procedures varies as high as 8-10 times from that of USA and UK. Medical Facilities India has the most competent doctors and world class Medical Facilities. With most competitive charges for treatment, India is a very lucrative destination for people wanting to undergo treatment of certain medical problems who do not need immediate emergency treatment.

To know more about Hospitals in India and the Phacoemulsification surgery packages available in Hospitals,

Please visit-

Important Details:

Medical Tourism to India -

International Patient Experiences -

Email - contact@indianhealthguru.com

Contact Number- 0091-93711-36499