On the 14 of August in 2001, a nearly blind girl child was born in the Mahui village of Purbi Champaran district in the State of Bihar. She came into this world in a land engulfed by blind superstitions.

She was lovingly named Ishrat meaning ‘pure and gentle’ by her parents. They loved her much but also believed that a blind girl could never have a bright future. Her father’s meager earnings from a small cosmetic shop were hardly enough to sustain their family of 7.

It took 5 years for Ishrat’s dad to accumulate some money for her treatment. Then at the age of 5, the little girl underwent surgery to remove her congenital cataracts.

Unfortunately, the surgery was not that successful.

Ishrat ended up with a poor visual acuity in her left eye and a vision of 6/18 on her right eye. However, now she could at least see with the help of a spectacle. 

 

After surgery, though things seemed a little better, they were far from great. Ishrat still could not play with her friends. Then as she joined school, she realised the difficulty of pursuing an education with an impaired vision. She could not even see the blackboard clearly.

 

At this juncture of her life, Ishrat made up her mind to become an eye doctor when she grew up. She wanted to help other children like her see better.

 

As time passed Ishrat worked very hard, she continued her studies and learned to live with her visual drawback.

 

Soon she realised that her dream to become an eye doctor would never come true. Being good at studies was not good enough – money was important too.

 

She spent sleepless nights thinking, how on earth would her father get the finances for her coaching and medical entrance examination fees.

 

After completing her standard 10 board examination Ishrat finally decided to let go of her childhood dream of becoming an eye doctor.

 

Just about that time one day, she came across a newspaper add about DVC Foundation’s ‘Gender Equality Programme’.

Both Ishrat and her parents could not believe that DVC Foundation took in underprivileged girls like her, took care of their education, and professionally trained them to be optometrists, and finally gave them employment, all for free along with food and lodging. 

Without a second thought, Ishrat got her parents to bring her to DVC Foundation to find out more about the programme.

Hearing more about the initiative from the counselor at DVC Foundation, Ishrat realised that this was indeed a God-given opportunity for her to pursue her dreams of becoming a paediatric eye specialist one day.

Today, 3 years have passed since Ishrat gave her entrance examination at Dvc Foundation and got enrolled in the girls’ programme.

Over her stay at DVC Foundation, she completed her standards 11 and 12.She appeared for the Diploma in Ophthalmic Techniques (DOT) entrance examination and got through.

In September, this year she will appear for her 1st year DOT examination.

Since then a lot has changed for Ishrat – the girl ‘born with cataracts’ is not as helpless as she used to think herself to be.

The process of empowerment at DVC Foundation turned an introvert Ishrat into a vibrant and confident young lady.

Today she shows great confidence in interacting with patients and their family members.

Though DVC Foundation has helped to change her life for good, Ishrat’s struggles continue. A chapter which takes around 2 hours for a normal student to complete takes around 6 hours for her. She must be constantly more attentive due to her weak eyesight.

As Ishrat shows the will to make her dreams come true, DVC foundation’s vision is attained by providing her with the means.

Cataracts commonly begin to develop in individuals after 40 years, but symptoms might start appearing at 60 years of age.

Because cataracts develop gradually over a period, they are often mistaken for normal vision loss. In fact, in early stages only a doctor might be able to diagnose cataracts as there might be no noticeable symptoms.

Untreated cataracts will continue to deteriorate vision in the eye.

Cataracts can only be treated with a simple surgery to restore back clear vision.

Look out for the following symptoms and signs that might indicate the onset of cataract:

1. Blurry Vision

One of the most common symptoms of cataract is blurry vision. Patients mistake it for refractive error problem. It becomes difficult to do fine jobs that require focus like reading, sewing etc.

Patients often find that using vision aids like reading glasses also does not improve vision over time and sometimes requires frequent prescription changes.
This often is the most tell-tale sign that cataracts are beginning to develop in the eyes.

2. Poor Night Vision

One of the primary indications of cataract is very poor vision in low light or dim light conditions. Cataracts notably affects your night-time vision and you might find it very difficult to walk along poorly lit passages. Driving at night-time becomes extremely dangerous and should be completely avoided.

You might also notice that you usually require a brighter light while reading. These are signs that you need to visit and consult an eye doctor to diagnose the cataract.

Replacing your eye lens with Artificial lenses called Intraocular Lens (IOL) immediately improve your vision. Schedule a cataract surgery screening with eye surgeons at dvc foundation Eye Hospital.

3. Halos and Glare

When you have cataract, you might start seeing halos around bright lights sources like streetlights or the headlights of a car at night. You might also experience intense glare and might find it difficult to see outside in bright sunlight.

Combined with poor night vision it becomes difficult and dangerous to drive at night.

4. Color Changes

Cataracts start to affect your color perception and vision. Because of the cataracts blocking the natural lens in your eyes, your vision tends to turn brownish or yellowish depending on the intensity of the cataract. Over time, colours start to seem faded or less bright and often it becomes difficult to distinguish between blues and purple.

5. Double Vision

Sometimes, when a patient, suffering from cataracts, sees with one eye, the patient experinces double vision. This visual condition is also known as Diplopia. With cataracts in the eyes, images tend to look double and blurred with one eye.

What to do if you experience the above cataract or Motiyabind symptoms and signs?

Cataract surgery is a very safe process and a stitch-less and painless procedure. Cataracts are natural part of the ageing process and can be easily resolved with a simple surgery and often your eye doctor considers surgery when your vision starts affecting your daily activities.

It is important not to neglect the above cataract symptoms and consult an eye specialist to start cataract treatment.

Consult your doctor regularly to determine the progress of your cataract.

If you are 40+ years old and experiencing signs of cataract, book a doctor appointment at dvc foundationeye Hospitals. Each of our senior eye surgeons have performed over 10,000+ surgeries and are best placed to suggest you the necessary treatment.

• Phacoemulsification (PHACO)

Commonly known as “PHACO” surgery, it is the mostly common technique for cataract removal nowadays.

This procedure requires minimal sedation, and the eyes are numbed by administrating anesthetic drops in the eyes to prepare for the surgery. During the procedure a small incision is made at the side of the cornea- the clear dome shaped portion that covers the front of your eye, by using a cutting-edge machine. In the next step a small probe is inserted into the eye. This probe then emits low pulses of ultrasonic sounds which breaks up the natural clouded lens into tiny fragments. Another attachment to the probe is then used as suction to removes the tiny broken fragments.

After that the eye surgeon would introduce a foldable lens implant called the IOL through a special applicator. The flexible IOL then unfolds within the eye in place of the natural lens.

This would help the patient with vision correction after the surgery.

Cataract surgery through PHACO machine is a painless and stitch-less procedure. Patient is discharged from the hospital on the same day of the surgery itself. Cataract operation when done through the PHACO process, results in very less recovery time, and the patient can resume work within few days.

If you have any query, please contact us using the form here. Our executive will contact you on your phone number.

• Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS)

Commonly termed as “SICS”, this procedure does not involve performing the surgery using the probes or any cutting-edge machine.

In its place, the doctor usually uses a blade to manually make a larger incision (larger compared to a PHACO incision) at the side of the cornea and remove the cataract without fragmenting the lens in the eye like the PHACO technique. Later the IOL is introduced in the eye inside the capsular bag.

SICS is a suture less surgery and as such no stiches are required and the incision is self-healing.

However, a bandage is placed over the eye immediately after the surgery for protection. The patient may require staying at the hospital for a night and released the next day. Patients need more recovery time for healing, and it may take up to weeks to resume work.

Clinical studies and research have shown that both SICS and PHACO surgeries provide good visual outcome, yet you might have to choose between these two surgery options because of the following:

1. When patients present themselves with very hard and densely developed cataract, the surgeon is left with little choice but to do SICS because doing PHACO in such eyes PHACO would require prolonged time and increased energy levels than normal.
2. Performing SICS is significantly faster. Hence SICS is commonly preferred in a high volume set up like eye surgeries in a camp set up.
3. The quality of vision after surgery, depends to a large extent on the type of IOL used. When advanced IOLs are implanted, the eye surgeon would choose PHACO over SICS.
4. Discharge from the hospital is faster in PHACO patients after surgery. In fact, after PHACO surgery a patient can usually get back to normal activity faster.
5. When Patients present themselves with complications in their eyes along with cataract, doctors usually must decide on a particular surgery option.

Finally, since every single person with cataract can have varied health conditions, your eye surgeon is supposed to discuss the specific potential complications of the type of cataract procedure most feasible for you. Your doctor or eye specialist is best placed to suggest the right IOL and the right surgical procedure that is most suited for you.

If you are planning a cataract or motiyabind surgery for yourself or a family member, you may visit an dvc foundation Hospital facility to consult an eye specialist or doctor. 

To consult a doctor or eye specialist at dvc foundation, you may book a doctor appointment online to save your time.

If you have any query, please contact us using the form here. Our executive will contact you on your phone number.

 

 

Intraocular lenses or IOLs are artificial devices that are implanted in your eye during a cataract or motiyabind surgery, that replaces the cloudy natural lens in the eye to restore your sight.

While there are several types of IOLs that the patient might be suggested for cataract surgery, in this article we will discuss the most advanced form of IOL that has been made recently available.

Our natural eye lens can accommodate to provide vision for seeing near, intermediate, and far off just by changing our focus.

Such is the amazing nature and flexibility of the human eye that we tend to see things around us- near, far, or intermediate just by merely changing our focus. The flexible natural lens accommodates itself to allow light to pass through it and form an image on the retina much like how a camera would create a picture on the film.

As we age, the natural lens of our eye becomes hard, cloudy and starts blurring our vision. This is the advent of cataract in the eyes. Over a period, the cataracts lead to vision loss.

Cataract operation is performed to remove the clouded lens and replace the same with an artificial lens called IOL.

Most used IOLs in cataract surgery are Monofocal IOLs. These Monofocal lenses usually are single distance lens meaning that with Monofocal IOL you would be able to see up close or far away and not both.

After the cataract surgery using Monofocal lenses, you would need reading glasses or even bifocals depending on your pre-existing refractive error.

Acrysof IQ© and Acrysof SP© from Alcon Laboratories Inc. are some of the most advanced Monofocal lenses available at dvc foundation Eye Hospital.

The other option is premium Multifocal IOLs which would allow you to see far and distance closely mimicking the natural vision of the eye.

Tecnis Symphony© from Zeiss, Restore© from Alcon Laboratories Inc. and iDiff© manufactured by Care group are some of the most commonly used Multifocal IOLs at dvc foundation Eye Hospital.

A new Option introduced recently in the IOL category is called Trifocal IOLs which allows all three ranges of vision like the natural eye instead of one or two range of vision like Monofocal and Multifocal respectively. Trifocal lenses are the most advanced and modern IOLs that are available today and they improve the three ranges of vision like:

• Distance or Far vision- like looking at distant objects clearly
• Intermediate distance- like working on a computer, shaving etc.
• Near Vison- like reading, writing, sewing etc.

At the same time, the lenses offer better distance vision compared to Monofocal lenses, reducing the need for eyeglasses.

If you are a young patient who is till working and would need clear vision at all three distances or if you are older but need to lead an independent and active lifestyle you might benefit from a Trifocal IOL.

Panoptix© from Alcon Laboratories Inc. are the newest generation Trifocal available at dvc foundationEye Hospital.

Consult and discuss with our doctor or eye specialist and counselor to determine if the PanOptix Trifocal Lens is right for you.

dvc foundation Eye Hospital provides all types of IOL like Monofocal, Mutltifocal and Trifocal at 30% lower price than other eye hospitals. CLICK HERE to book your doctor appointment now.

Cataracts in your eyes can only be corrected by surgery.

During cataract surgery, the natural lens in your eye will be replaced by an artificial lens called Intraocular lens (IOL). This is a very less time-consuming surgery, and several modern techniques are available nowadays for a painless, stitchless, and hassle-free process.

You would need to consult your doctor to get a recommendation for the right kind of IOL depending on your lifestyle and the condition of your eye. However, it is important to understand the IOLs to decide which IOL might suit your needs, more importantly, because Cataract operation (Motiyabind ka operation) is a one-time intervention and your decision to choose the IOL would also affect the possible artificial lens that you might need in your other eye in future.

Cataract operation cost by Phaco method (Motiyabind ka operation cost) at dvc foundation Hospital starts from Rs. 12,000 only. The cataract/ Motiyabind operation package includes all expenses such as Doctor fees, OT charges, Bed charges, Lens costs, etc. Basic cataract operation by SICS process starts from Rs. 6,000 only. 

Monofocal Lens

Monofocal IOLs are the standard IOLs. The central Optic part of these IOLs comes with one refractive power which means that with Monofocal IOL you would be able to see up close or far away and not both.

After the cataract surgery with a Monofocal lens, you would need reading glasses or even bifocals depending on your pre-existing refractive error.

Advantages:

Monofocal lenses are the most suggested lenses. There are various types of Indian and foreign lens in this category and patients can choose according to their budgets. Mostly with this lens distance vision is corrected well.

Disadvantages:

Most people having a Monofocal lens would still need to wear glasses.

dvc foundationEye hospital offers a range of Indian and Foreign IOL lenses to choose from depending on your budget.

Multifocal

These lenses are also called premium lenses and are the most technologically advanced IOLs. The Optics part of the lens comes with a differential refractive power range allowing patients to see near, intermediate as well as far distances with ease. Multifocal lens often allows vision correction without having to wear glasses.

These lenses are therefore suited for people who lead an active lifestyle. Your cataract surgeon is best placed to decide whether you can be a good candidate for multifocal lenses after your preoperative examination.

Advantages:

A multifocal lens is your best option to avoid wearing glasses after your cataract or Motiyabind operation. These lenses allow you to lead an active lifestyle like reading, working on computers, driving, etc.

Disadvantages:

These lenses are usually costly and come at a premium price compared to Monofocal lenses. Though you might be willing to spend for it, your doctor would be the best person to advise for Multifocal lens implantation. Your vision outcome also depends on your pre-existing eye condition.

dvc foundation Eye hospital does the largest number of Multifocal IOL implantation in this region. If you choose to upgrade to a multifocal Intraocular lens for your cataract surgery (Motiyabind operation), you should consider consulting our experienced eye doctors and specialists.

TORIC lens

Our eyes have two types of power:

• Spherical- caused by the refractive error problem of our natural lens in the eye.
• Cylindrical - caused by the uneven curvature of the cornea- the transparent front part of our eye.

The uneven curvature of the cornea leads to a refractive condition called Astigmatism.

Both Monofocal and Multifocal lenses can correct only the spherical power of the eye. However, if you also have astigmatism then you would need Toric lenses for the correction.

Therefore, a patient with astigmatism can opt for either a Monofocal Toric IOL or a multifocal Toric IOL.

Finally, which would be the best IOL for you?

There is no single answer to suggest which of the IOL would be best suited for you. Your cataract surgeon would be able to best suggest to you the IOL that you may require depending on the condition of your eye and other preexisting diseases.

Lifestyle:

In case you lead an active lifestyle like playing, or traveling you may compromise on your near vision but not on your distance vision. Similarly, there are other activities like driving where you need to have both near, and distance vision corrected and might like to avoid glasses altogether after cataract surgery.

Budget:

Premium IOLs are more costly than standard IOLs. Though costly they offer greater benefits than standard IOL. However, if you are on a budget, you might not like to consider Premium IOLs.

Pre-Existing Diseases:

Any preexisting eye or systemic diseases might require you to consider a particular type of IOL. If you have preexisting eye conditions like glaucoma, or retinal issues you might have to consider a specific type of IOL. Similarly, in case you have systemic issues like Diabetes your doctor might suggest you a specific kind of IOL.