Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE)
What is Extracapsular Cataract Extraction?
Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a type of eye surgery in which the lens of the eye is removed, leaving the elastic capsule covering the lens, which is left partially attached to allow the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL).
Purpose of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
The main purpose of ECCE is to restore clear vision by removing the clouded and discolored lens and replacing it with an IOL. Cataract operations are some of the oldest recorded surgical processes, dating back to 1750 B.C.
It is a cataract surgery that involves removing the eye’s natural lens while leaving the back of the capsule which holds the lens in place. This process requires a much smaller incision as compared to the older process called Intracapsular Cataract Extraction. A modified version of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction is called Phacoemulsification and uses an even smaller incision that requires no sutures at all.
The natural lens becomes cloudy, usually due to the aging process. This cloudy lens is called a cataract. The main objective of modern cataract surgery is to remove this hazy lens and replace it with a tiny plastic prescription lens that will be permanently implanted in your eye.
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction Process
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction is a method of cataract surgery that involves removing the eye’s natural lens while leaving the back of the capsule that holds the lens in place. This procedure requires a much smaller incision than the older process called Intracapsular Cataract Extraction, in which the lens and the entire capsule were removed.
In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the white of the eye near the outer edges of the cornea. The size of this depends on whether the lens of the nucleus is to be removed all in one piece or whether it will be dissolved into tiny pieces and then vacuumed out. The surgeon then enters the eye through this incision and carefully opens the front of the capsule that holds the lens in place.
After the nucleus or hard center is removed, you may need sutures if your cataract was removed in one piece. If the phacoemulsification technique is employed, sutures are usually not required to close the incision.
Read Related – 7 Things Need to Know Cataract Surgery
Demographics of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
- Cataract extraction is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in industrialized countries. Around 300,000-400,000 cases of disabling cataracts occur annually in the USA alone. 1 to 1.5 million cataract extractions are performed annually in the United States.
- Estimates by the WHO in 1997 state that cataracts are responsible for 50% of the cases of blindness globally. This figure is expected to rise to 50 million by 2020. 1.2% of the population in Africa is blind, of which cataracts are responsible for 36% of such cases.
- About one person in every 50 of the American population will eventually have to have a cataract removed. Rates of cataract formation vary from group to group, though. 50% of people over the age of 60 have some degree of cataract formation, with the figure rising to 100% for those aged 80 and above.
Risk Factors of ECCE that Come with Age
- Genetic Factors
- Sex
- Women are a bit more likely to develop cataracts over time.
- Exposure to Ultraviolet Rays
- Cortical cataracts are more likely to occur in people who are exposed to sunlight frequently.
- Smoking – People who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day are more likely to develop nuclear or PSC cataracts.
- Heavy Alcohol Consumption
- Use of Steroid Medication
- Socioeconomic Status
- People with a college education have lower rates of cataract formation than people who did not finish school.
- Chronic dehydration, Diarrhea, and Malnutrition.
Regain clear vision with Extracapsular Cataract Extraction! Schedule a consultation at InSight Vision Center today to explore your treatment options.
This article is general information and isn't a substitute for an eye exam.