U Education

Part of the work up prior to undergoing refractive cataract surgery is a thorough retinal examination. The retina is the tissue that lines the back of the eye. It acts much like the film in a camera by processing light that is focused on it so that you can see clearly. The centre of the retina is called the macula. The macula is responsible for central vision, the part of your vision that is most responsible for important daily activities of life such as reading, writing and driving. Diseases of the macula can lead to reduced central visual acuity. In some cases, cataract surgery can lead to a worsening of macular disease, as in diabetes. Therefore, if you have any problems with your macula, it is important that these are identified and addressed prior to surgery. Additionally, macular problems can limit your visual outcomes after surgery and this is another reason why it is important to have these problems identified.