People who have been diagnosed with cataracts, or family members of loved ones with cataracts, will likely know about the necessity of cataract surgery, but may not know exactly what to expect.
In this article, we will explain what happens during the cataract surgery process.
Here at Texan Eye Care, we aim to educate and ease any concerns regarding cataract surgery, so you can make the right decision.
Read on to learn more about:
- What cataracts are and how they are treated
- What happens before cataract surgery
- What happens during cataract surgery
- What happens after cataract surgery
Let’s get into it!
What Are Cataracts and How Are They Treated
Our eyes work in an incredible way. Eyes have a lens, which helps to bring light into the rest of the eye, and allow us to see. Cataracts occur when this lens becomes cloudy. This results in increasingly poor eyesight, including: blurry vision, poor night vision and glare.
There are many causes of cataracts, including: aging, diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure, for example.
The key treatment for cataracts is cataract eye surgery. The cloudy lens is replaced with a high quality lens which restores vision.
Before Cataract Surgery
Once you have been diagnosed with cataracts by an eye doctor, they will ask you to attend a series of appointments to help you prepare for the surgery.
They will also explain the process, and what to expect.
Before surgery you can expect:
- Health Checks: Your doctor will ask you to take a number of medical tests to make sure that surgery is safe for you.
This often includes running a series of blood tests and asking about your full medical history, including any medications and supplements you may be taking.
- Eye Exams: Before surgery, your eye doctor will do a number of eye tests with you, to check the extent of the cataracts you have.
They will also measure your eye to choose the right lens for your eye during surgery.
- Choosing The Lens: Your ophthalmologist will discuss the various options available for lenses. They will discuss the pros and cons of different intraocular lenses, to help you decide on the right one.
- Choosing Anesthesia: Before surgery, a doctor will also discuss with you what anesthesia you prefer, along with the pros and cons
How To Prepare For Surgery
There are a few things you can do to prepare for your surgery, to make your life a little bit easier.
- Buy sunglasses to help protect your eyes after surgery
- Arrange transportation to and from the surgery clinic
- Pick up prescription medication such as eye drops and antibiotics before surgery
- Have fresh, clean bedsheets ready for when you get home to rest and reduce the risk of infection
- Arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you a few days after surgery, to help you around the house while you recover
During Cataract Surgery
There are a number of steps in cataract surgery at the Texas Eye Centre. You can be rest assured that you will be guided every step of the way, and that you will be in safe hands.
The surgery itself only takes 10–20 minutes per eye.
1. Arrival
You will be asked to arrive a few hours before your surgery to fill out any necessary paperwork, and undergo the final few medical tests and exams
2. IV and Anesthesia
You will be given an IV line with a mild sedative, to help you relax and take away any stress you may have.
You will also be given numbing eye drops so that you don’t feel any discomfort during the process. General anesthesia is not commonly used in cataract surgery, meaning you will be awake during the procedure.
3. Surgery
During surgery, you will be asked to lie on a surgical chair. The surgeon will then remove the cloudy lens in your eye with a very fine laser and suction device.
Your eyes will be numb the whole time.
They will then replace the lens with an artificial one.
After Cataract Surgery
Before your surgery at the Texan Eye Care center, your doctor will explain the recovery process, and what to expect.
In the first 24 hours, your eyesight will be blurry, as the lens is beginning to heal.
You will be given an eye shield to wear at night to help protect your eyes. After a few days, your eyesight will improve.
However, you will not be able to lift heavy objects. You will also need to use eye drops to protect your eyes while they heal.
Your eyesight will continue to improve over the next week or two.
You will be asked to attend a follow-up appointment with your eye doctor to check on your progress after about a week. In a month, most people have fully recovered.
Tips For a Smooth Recovery
- Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes during recovery
- Use eye drops to avoid dry eyes. Avoid air conditioning or fan heaters
- Use over the counter pain medications if you experience pain or discomfort
- Avoid strenuous activities, including lifting heavy objects
- Avoid getting water in your eyes when showering, to avoid infections
- Avoid excessive screen time and bright lights
- Wear sunglasses when outside
Conclusion
Before surgery, you can expect doctors to assess your health status, and eye health.
This will help both you, and the surgeon, prepare for the procedure. The surgery itself is very fast, and does not usually involve going under general anesthetic.
Once the procedure is finished, you can expect your eyesight to improve in a few days, with full recovery within a few weeks to a month.
At Texas Eye Care, you can expect to be guided through the cataract surgery every step of the way.
The doctors at the clinic are compassionate, and understand the importance of keeping you informed, and answering any questions you may have.
If you are considering cataract surgery for yourself, or a loved one it is important to Schedule Your Appointment with a trained ophthalmologist.
They will help assess, diagnose and treat your cataracts.
