3 Types Of Cataracts

• Nuclear sclerotic cataract

• Cortical cataract

• Posterior subcapsular cataract

Nuclear sclerotic cataract is the most common type. It starts to form in the middle of the lens which causes it to harden and become cloudy over time, which can take years. The cataract may be yellow or brownish in appearance depending on the patient, which can affect the patient’s ability to distinguish colours effectively. 

Cortical cataracts start on the outside edges of the lens and, over time, it spreads to the center. Most people with cortical cataracts will have blurry vision, but there are other symptoms like difficulty distinguishing between colors and double vision in one eye.

Posterior subcapsular cataract starts at the back of the lens’s surface beneath the lens capsule where tissue becomes increasingly cloudy over time. This type of cataract often develops quickly and can have symptoms like sensitivity to light, night glare and halos.

How do cataracts affect vision?

Cataracts are mostly caused by natural aging, but they can also develop at any age; sometimes it even develops in children who can be born with this condition. As cataract develops, the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, it can also cause some problems like blurry vision, color perception, poor night vision and so on. 

What Is The Average Age For Developing Cataract

Around the age of 40, the proteins in the lens of the eye start to break down, causing the transparent lens to become more cloudy and yellow. As the patients get more and more older, the cataract gets more serious and clouds more of the lens. Recognizable signs and symptoms will appear in patients who are in their 50s or 60s and more than half of all Americans over the age of 80 have experienced the effects of cataracts.

What Is The Average Age for a Cataract Surgery

The average age of Cataract Surgery in the US is 72 years old, but the evidence suggests that the average age is beginning to decrease. There were also recent studies which implied that more and more younger people are choosing cataract surgery. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery suggests that younger patients are less likely to accept the inconvenience of a cataract and are choosing to have surgery at younger ages. 

Does laser cataract surgery help?

Of course it helps! A cataract surgeon will use advanced laser technology to break up the affected lens, so it doesn’t block or distort your vision. The natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens that can also improve refractive errors, like nearsightedness or astigmatism. 

So, should everyone consider laser cataract surgery? Laser cataract surgery can offer numerous benefits that traditional cataract surgery can’t, including increased precision, safety, and even better visual outcomes. However, it is important to discuss with an ophthalmologist to decide if it is the best option for your specific needs and circumstances.

What Is Cataract Surgery Like?

Cataract surgery is a very common and safe procedure. It is performed in an outpatient setting and patients can return home the same day. Patients have surgery done in one eye and typically return for the second eye in a few weeks. 

First, your eye is numbed with a local anesthetic (either eye drops or an injection). You will remain awake during this procedure, but you will be given light sedation through an IV to make you relaxed and comfortable, Dr. Wang explains. “The surgery is overall fairly painless,” she says. “Most patients complain due to little itching or irritation during the first night, but their vision will surely improve by the next day.” Dr. Wang also adds “We recommend patients to take it easy and only do light activity, no heavy lifting or bending. Other than that, you can usually go back to work in a day or two.”

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While it may sound straightforward, the process is quite involved. There are two primary methods a surgeon can use:

• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): This technique involves harvesting individual follicular units one at a time from the donor area. FUE tends to be less painful, which may be why it is more commonly performed.
• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): In this method, a surgeon removes a small strip of tissue from the back of the head and extracts hair follicles from this strip.

A follicular unit is a small cluster of hair follicles that typically emerge through a single exit point in the skin.

Both methods involve taking between 2,000 to 5,000 hair follicle grafts, or more, from the donor area, usually located at the back of the head, near or slightly below the level of the ears, and transplanting them onto the face. A graft refers to a single hair follicle that is transplanted.

What’s the procedure like ?

Here’s an overview of the steps involved in the procedure:

Harvesting

Regardless of whether you opt for FUE or FUT, the first step your surgeon will take is to shave the area on your head where the hair will be harvested. This provides a clearer view of the hair follicles. Before the harvesting process starts, you will be administered a local anesthetic, ensuring you won’t feel any discomfort during the harvesting or implantation.

Implantation

After the follicles have been harvested from your head, the surgeon will inject a local anesthetic into the areas of your face where the implants will be placed. Then, each follicle will be carefully implanted into your facial skin, creating the beard shape you and the surgeon planned before the procedure.

Recovery

You’ll need about a day to recover from the beard implant surgery. Tiny crusts may form around each newly implanted hair follicle, but these should shed within a few days.

After approximately one to two weeks, you can begin shaving and trimming your new beard as usual.

It’s important to note that your new beard hairs might fall out after 2 or 3 weeks, which is a normal part of the process. New hair should start to grow in to replace them.

Who’s a good candidate for this procedure?

Since hair follicles are taken from the back of your head, it’s crucial to have healthy hair follicles in that area. This part of the scalp usually remains the last to experience baldness, so even if you’re starting to lose hair on the top, you likely still have healthy growth at the back.

Your transplant surgeon will assess your scalp to determine if there are enough viable follicular units for the transplant. If there aren’t enough healthy follicles available, your doctor might suggest alternative treatments.

How do you know that a beard implant is successful?

Regardless of the procedure used, the transplanted hair follicles should start settling in and growing within 3 to 4 months. You’ll know the beard implant was successful if, after 8 to 9 months, you have a full, healthy beard that looks natural and can be treated as if it has always been there.

Both FUE and FUT can result in a natural-looking beard, but FUT tends to produce a fuller appearance. This is because more follicles are typically harvested when a strip of skin is removed. If a thicker beard is your goal, you might want to consider FUT.

Beard transplant failures are rare and generally occur due to improper harvesting from the donor area. Therefore, it’s important to invest in an experienced hair restoration surgeon to ensure the best results.

Are There Any Precautions Or Side Effects ?

After the surgery, both the harvested area on your head and the implanted area on your face will require special care. It’s important to keep both sites clean.

In the first few days you should avoid these activities: swimming, exposure to direct sunlight, smoking, using a sauna or hot tub, strenuous physical activity, especially anything that’ll cause a sweat, touching, rubbing, or scratching the harvested or implant areas.

Potential Side Effects

You may experience these side effects:

• swelling
• redness
• tightness
• numbness
• temporary scabs or crustiness

The implant areas on your face should not have permanent scarring, but you might experience some temporary scabbing. If crustiness, redness, swelling, or irritation persists beyond a couple of weeks, be sure to inform your doctor.

How Much Does A Beard Implant Cost ?

Beard transplants can be quite expensive, often costing upwards of $15,000 depending on the number of grafts required. Partial transplants, which fill in areas where facial hair is sparse, typically range from $3,000 to $7,000, again depending on the number of grafts. It’s important to discuss the costs with your doctor during your initial consultation.

Before the procedure, your doctor will need to evaluate your scalp and face to determine if you’re a suitable candidate. There may be a fee for this consultation, so be sure to inquire about the cost when scheduling your appointment.

Since beard transplants are considered cosmetic procedures, they are generally not covered by insurance. Some doctors offer payment plans, so ask about financing options if needed.

Conclusion

Beard implant surgery is a method to fill in gaps in your beard or to create a beard where none previously existed. Although it’s an invasive and costly procedure, the results are typically long-lasting.

Depending on the type of surgery, you might end up with a single long scar on the back of your head, which can be covered by hair growth, or numerous small scars that are often too tiny to notice.

If you prefer not to pursue implant surgery, you could consider topical products like minoxidil to enhance beard growth or try taking supplements.

Regardless of your choice, it’s important to consult with your doctor about the risks and benefits of surgery, topical treatments, and supplements.

While genetics might influence limited beard growth, there are various options available if you’re aiming for facial hair in the future.

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