The eye works like a camera and together with the brain, they help you to see the things around you.

The coloured part of the eye is known as the 'iris'.

In the centre is an opening, the pupil, which appears as a black circle within the iris. Light rays coming from an object is transmitted through the cornea and the pupil. The size of the pupil controls the amount of light entering the eye.

Behind the pupil is the lens which focuses the light rays. These focused light rays fall onto the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive sheet at the back of the eye and is similar to the film inside a camera.

The retina then transmits the clear images to the brain.

A normal lens consists of a central portion, the nucleus, which is enclosed within a thin membrane called the capsule.

• normal ageing process
• eye injury or inflammation
• certain medications or
• certain illnesses e.g. diabete

• Blurring of the vision, which does not improve even with spectacles
• Difficulty in seeing both near and far objects
• Difficulty in reading small prints
• Discomfort from glare, occurring in the day or at night
• Becoming short sighted again after many years

A cataract can only be removed by surgery. An artificial lens is often implanted at the time of surgery, which will take on the function of focusing light rays. This artificial lens implant most closely resembles the natural eye lens and is the preferred method of correcting your vision at present. However, there are occasions when an artificial lens cannot be safely implanted into the eye. In this case, you may need to wear special glasses or contact lenses to help you focus instead.

• You will be asked to have some tests done before surgery to check that you are fit enough to undergo surgery. The curvature and length of the eye need to be measured in order to select the proper artificial lens implant to suit your eye.
• You may be asked to apply eyedrops for two or three days prior to the surgery.
• The night before surgery, you should stop taking all food and drinks (including water) after midnight. If you are on any medication other than diabetes medication, take it with small sips of water, on the morning of the surgery.
• Should the doctor give you any additional instructions, you should follow them too
• The surgery will be carried out on an outpatient basis and you will not have to stay overnight in the hospital.

Before the surgery, the doctor will give a few injections of painkillers to the eye area so that no pain will be felt during the surgery. You may also be given some sedative medication to help you feel sleepy and minimise any anxiety that you may experience. Eye drops will also be applied to help dilate the pupils to allow the doctor to see inside the eye.

As a result of the medication, your vision will be blurred significantly and you need not worry about seeing the surgical instruments approaching your eyes. The staff in the operating theatre will cover you with clean linen before surgery commences. The eye specialist will apply a special instrument, known as a retractor to keep the eye open and prevent you from blinking during the operation.