Extracapsular Cataract Extraction


People with cataract, may undergo this surgery to remove the clouded eye lens and regain clearer vision by insertion of an artificial lens.  This is a common surgical procedure in which the back of the capsule, which holds the lens in place, is left intact.  A modern version of the surgery is called phacoemulsification and uses a smaller incision, and no sutures. 

Cataract often develops with age and prevents light rays from passing efficiently through the eye and focusing on the retina to enable clear vision.  Light rays can either not pass through or become diffused by the lens instead of being fine-tuned by it.  In extracapsular cataract extraction, the lens in replaced with a prescription lens which is implanted into the eye socket.  The surgery involves making small incision near to the outer edge of the cornea.  The size of the incision depends on whether the natural lens is going to be shattered and sucked out or removed as a whole piece.  Different types of surgery work differently at removing the lens.  The front of the capsule that holds the lens in place is then opened and the soft lens cortex is sucked out.  The back of the capsule is left in place.  This helps to strengthen and support the artificial lens.  Once the artificial lens is placed behind the iris on the position of the old lens, the surgery is complete and may or may not require sutures.  Vision can sometimes be improved to the extent that reliance on glasses is reduced or completely diminished. 


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