SUSHRUTA ON CATARACT SURGERY

 

1. A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, which eventually affects your vision. You see similar darkness as days pass by. This clouding vision is due to sleshma or Kapha that is, accumulation of fat [protein].
2. This problem is called linga-nâsha. [blurred vision].

3. Surgery is the only method to cure this.

4. The intelligent surgeon must prepare the patient, and ask him to undergo fasting [sneha and sveda]. The surgeon shall put proper drops and use the finest and sharpest instrument for incision.

5. [Now called phaco incision]. The patient's eyelids should be drawn up. The incision should be made two measures away from the white [from the apanga],  and one measure away from the cornea. The incision shall be neither low nor high, but precise. It shall be small and no stitching is needed. The surgeon shall then press out the fluid.

6. The wise surgeon shall hear a subtle sound when the cataract is burst. [nowadays using ultrasound, phacoemulsification is done]

7. Both cataracts should be removed on the same day.

8. The eyes shall then be covered with lint and bandages.

9. tryhât tryhât cha dhâveta....The patient should see the doctor for three days and three days for changing or removal of bandages.
Linga-nâsha-Radha or Cataract surgery is a simple process, but the efficient surgeon should be alert and careful. [Uttara Tantram, Sushruta Samhitâ]