Cataract and Maculopathy can often be associated as they are both diseases of adulthood. Treating them together today is possible thanks to the latest innovations for 2024 in cataract surgery and the treatment of maculopathy.

Cataract surgery consists of removing the cataract (opaque lens inside the eye) and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens. Today there are intraocular lenses dedicated to those suffering from maculopathy and cataracts.

In Maculopathy the central part of the retina called macula is diseased but the surrounding part of retina is usually healthy. The new intraocular lenses for Maculopathy and Cataract improve vision because they move images from the diseased macula to the healthier surrounding retina.

Cataract: Symptoms and Treatment

A cataract is the opacity of a lens located inside the eye called crystalline. This lens is clear at birth and becomes opaque with age.

The symptoms of cataract are as follows:

— discomfort in front of lights

— alteration of colors

— blurred vision

Surgery is the only solution to the symptoms caused by cataract. In the presence of Maculopathy and Cataract, cataract surgery should be performed only when the Maculopathy is stable.

First it is important to treat the Maculopathy and then when the Maculopathy is stable the cataract is treated. The damage caused by Maculopathy is not reversible while that caused by cataract is. The sight that is lost due to cataract is regained after surgery, the sight that is lost due to maculopathy is more difficult to regain.

In 2024, treating cataract in a patient with stable maculopathy can also greatly improve vision. The cataract is removed with the Laser and ultrasound and a specific intraocular lens for Maculopathy is inserted inside the eye.

There are several intraocular lenses for Cataract and Maculopathy: the most used is the EyeMax lens that our clinic brought to Italy and helped develop.

Other commonly used lenses include the following:

• Smaller-Incision New-Generation IMT (SING IMT)
• Scharioth Macular IOL.
• MAX lenses.

Our center is able to indicate which is the most suitable intraocular lens for the different types of cataracts and Maculopathy.

Maculopathy: Symptoms and Treatment

Maculopathy is the disease of the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for seeing the images in front of us.

The symptoms of maculopathy initially include image distortion, and as the disease progresses, there is a reduction in central vision, making it difficult to drive, read, and recognize faces.

There are two main forms of Maculopathy:

1. Wet Maculopathy – It evolves quickly and must be promptly treated with Intravitreal Injections of AntiVEGF Drugs. These are injections of specific drugs administered inside the eye, usually on a monthly basis during the acute phase of the disease.
2. Dry Maculopathy – It evolves more slowly than the wet form. It is linked to an inflammation of the Macula mediated by Complement (a molecule present in our body). To date, there is no specific universally accepted treatment. In the USA there have been two approved therapies for the dry form for about a year, these are intravitreal injections to be done monthly. One drug is Syfovre another is Izervay. None of these are currently available in Europe. The use of the former was rejected in Europe by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in January 2024. However, it is hypothesized that by 2024 at least one of the two will become available in Europe.

When maculopathy is associated with cataract, the latter further influences the decrease in vision. Cataract surgery can help improve the eyesight of those suffering from cataracts and maculopathy. However, it is advisable that the maculopathy has remained stable for at least three months before cataract surgery.

New Cataract and Maculopathy Treatments in 2024

In 2024, treating cataract and maculopathy together is possible and advantageous because there are specific intraocular lenses for maculopathy that are inserted into the eye at the time of cataract and in some cases after cataract surgery.

It is a priority to treat maculopathy and make sure it is stable before doing cataract surgery. Stabilizing maculopathy in 2024 is easier because there are newly approved drugs for the treatment of Wet Maculopathy.

New drugs for the treatment of dry maculopathy are now in use in the USA and should also be available in Europe by the end of 2024.
Our clinic offers all these innovative treatments for cataract and maculopathy and we are at your disposal for further information. In the testimonials section you will find the experience of the patients who operated at our clinic.

More Info on How to Treat Cataract and Maculopathy?

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