Q: My father (age 67 years) will be undergoing cataract operation after 2 months. My question is should we implant Indian lenses (cost Rs. 400 only) or imported lenses (cost varies from Rs. 2500 to 6000). Are the costlier lenses better?

A:It is not important where the lens implant is made or the cost of it. But the type of implant material and how is it put inside the eye during the operation. The implants can be PMMA (poly methyl methacrilate like plastic), which is solid and requires a larger opening to put in the eye. This is now obsolete and after phaco emulsification it is usual to put in foldable or injectable implant through a smaller opening in the eye like acrysoft hydrophobic or hydrophilic lens implant. You should take sincere advice from your eye specialist to have the implant, which is best in his own experience. The quality of vision is dependent on not only the type of implant but also the size of the wound and the implant power accuracy, which is measured before the surgery through ultrasound power calculation.