Cataracts consist of the opacification of a natural lens inside the eye, called crystalline lens. It is a pathology that appears, above all, in the third age, and that normally evolves progressively, taking away vision to the patient.
On the other hand, astigmatism is a graduation defect in which there is a difference of graduation in different axes of the eye. For example, the eye may have 3 diopters of myopia at 180º and 2 at 90º. In this case we would have an astigmatism of one diopter (the difference of graduation between the two axes). It is a pathology that can coexist with both myopia and hyperopia, being the three graduation defects.
Most of the time the cause of astigmatism is in the cornea, which is more curved in one meridian than in the other, thus causing a difference in the graduation of the axes and, therefore, astigmatism.
Can cataracts and astigmatism coexist?
Astigmatism is a “corneal anomaly” and cataract is a disease of the crystalline lens. Not only can they coexist, but it is also common for them to coexist. More than 25% of patients diagnosed with cataracts have an astigmatism higher than 1.5 diopters.
What treatments are available for patients with cataracts and astigmatism?
Cataract treatment is surgical. In Ophthalmology, when a cataract is operated on, an attempt is also made to treat spectacle defects. The objective is to eliminate or mitigate the astigmatism at the same time a cataract is operated.
Currently, when a cataract with astigmatism of more than 1.5 diopters is operated, it is possible to implant a toric intraocular lens (special lens to correct astigmatism).
If the astigmatism is lower, it can be improved with corneal incisions, which can be made either with a scalpel or with a femtosecond laser.
What does cataract surgery associated with astigmatism consist of?
The surgery basically consists of the usual cataract surgery, with the addition of a toric lens implant. This involves very precise calculations: before surgery, of the lens to be implanted and in what exact position the lens should be placed. These calculations are called biometry.
Well, the toric lens has to be placed in a precise axis in order to correct the astigmatism. For this, it is necessary to mark this axis on the surface of the eye beforehand. In this sense we are innovators, having developed and patented together with the University of Malaga a revolutionary marker called ocular goniometer.
How is the surgery performed?
It is not very different from conventional cataract surgery. First the axis where the toric lens is to be placed is marked, then the cataract is removed and, finally, the lens is placed in the right place.
How are the results?
The results are really good, since both problems will be eliminated in the same surgical act, improving significantly the patient’s visual quality.