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Cataract Surgery  page 2 of 2     How can cataracts be treated? Presently, there is no medication, eye drops, exercises or glasses to cure or prevent cataracts. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common types of surgery. Cataracts cannot be removed with a laser, only through surgical incision. In cataract surgery the cloudy lens is removed from the eye. The focusing power of the removed lens is achieved by replacing it with a permanent intraocular lens implant (IOL), which has been selected to suit the specific eye measurements of each patient. Our surgeons are all highly trained and have had extensive experience with the most up-to-date techniques used for cataract surgery. The OSC offers a relaxed and friendly setting for the patient and the patient's family. Shortly after surgery is completed, the patient may go home and resume almost all routine activities. It must be understood that complications may occur in all types of surgery. In cataract surgery, hemorrhage, infection, and swelling are all possible, but very uncommon. The chance of any significant complication is less than 1%. Cataract surgery is among the safest and most successful procedure in the medical field. However, if a problem does arise, prompt treatment may resolve it. About a year after surgery, approximately 20% of the patients who undergo cataract surgery develop a haze of the capsular membrane surrounding the lens implant. Should this occur, YAG laser treatment is recommended. The YAG laser is used to create an opening in the clouded membrane, which significantly improves the patient's vision. It is one of the safest treatments used in ophthalmology. It is painless, requires no anesthesia or incision, and takes only minutes to complete. When should the cataract be removed? For the most part it is up to the patient to decide when they want to have their cataract removed. This is very much an individual decision because each patient has different vision requirements. We recommend that questions concerning cataracts and the need for cataract surgery are discussed with one of the accredited ophthalmologists at our centre.