Cataract is the clouding of the lens within the eye usually an ageing process. It can also be present at birth (congenital) or develop in young people if heritable.

As cataract develops the lens becomes opaque which causes blurry vision, glare, and light sensitivity. Surgery is indicated when the cataracts cause enough loss of sight so that a person’s work, hobbies, or lifestyle is compromised. Cataract surgery is very successful at restoring normal vision.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steals sight due to damage to the optic nerve. It affects people of all ages – from babies to old adults.

High risk category

• Age over 60 years.
• Relatives of those with glaucoma.
• Diabetics.
• Those with elevated eye pressure.

It is usually a silent blinding disease however sometimes a person may complain of pain, redness, watering, hazy vision and rainbow coloured haloes. It is a potentially blinding condition.

When detected early it can be controlled to ensure that the patient has useful vision throughout his life.

Increase in Intra ocular pressure (IOP) is an important cause for the damage. This pressure can be recorded with a tonometer. All patients suspected of having this ailment have their IOP recorded with the Tonometer.

Non contact tonometer is used to record this pressure among children and post operative patients.

The field of vision of the patient is recorded using a perimeter. This can detect field defects at an early stage when all other parameters may be normal.

The eye care specialist would do a detailed evaluation of the status of your optic nerve to quantify the damage due to the increased pressure.

Lasers are an important tool in the treatment of glaucoma. The hospitals offer the latest yag laser as well as the argon laser in the treatment.

Those uncontrolled with medical line of treatment or lasers are offered a surgical option of trabeculotomy or trabeculectomy as required. In intractable cases, glaucoma implants such as the Ahmed valve implant are carried out.

MFV hospitals offers specialized services in dealing with:

• Corneal infections and injuries : Corneal transplants are one of medicine's most successful transplant operations.
• Ocular Surface and Tear Disorders : Usually caused by eye mechanism dysfunctions.These can be relived and/or corrected through accurate diagnoses and appropriate specialized treatments.
• Corneal dystrophies and degenerative conditions : Treated medically or with surgical intervention where necessary.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. At this point, most people do not notice any changes in their vision.

Some people develop a condition called macular edema. It occurs when the damaged blood vessels leak fluid and lipids onto the macula, the part of the retina that lets us see detail. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision.

As the disease progresses, the proliferative stage , fragile new blood vessels grow along the retina and in the clear gel like vitreous that fills the inside of the eye. Without timely treatment, these new blood vessels can bleed, cloud vision, and destroy the retina.
All patients referred undergo a detailed retinal evaluation using an indirect ophthalmoscope. Ultrasound Digital B Scan used to detect various abnormalities of the retina and the vitreous cavities.

Diagnostic services in the form of fundus photography and fundus fluorescien angiography are available. This not only aids diagnosis but also allows serial follow up of patients. The digital imaging system enables us to provide the report instantaneously.

There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy. In fact, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent chance of keeping their vision when they get treatment before the retina is severely damaged. These two treatments are laser therapy (using an Argon laser or Diode laser) and vitrectomy.

The eyelids and structures around the eye are critical for vision. Injuries, congenital defects, aging changes and tumors affecting the eyelids as well as the tissues and bones surrounding the eyes can cause pain, eye damage, vision loss and disfigurement.

In addition, changes in the eyes appearance can decrease one's ability to interact in social settings and in the workplace. Also, the tragic loss of an eye because of injury or disease can decrease one's confidence and impair self-image.