Cataracts can induce clouded or blurred vision and also make bright lights extremely troublesome with regards to your vision. If you have a cataract that makes it challenging for you to do your usual activities, your ophthalmologist can recommend cataract surgery.
When cataracts overlap with the care of another eye condition, cataract surgery can be prescribed. For example, physicians can prescribe cataract surgery if cataracts make it harder for the ophthalmologist to control or treat astigmatism or normal vision correction, such as short-sightedness.
Although cataract surgery is a relatively routine procedure, with a high success rate, and an extremely low rate of complications, not everyone knows what they entail, so here is a simple guide that takes you from before the surgery through to the recovery period.
Before Surgery
A week or two before your surgery, your doctor will conduct several tests to determine the size or shape of your eye. Almost everyone who undergoes cataract surgery will receive IOLs. IOLs are lenses made from plastic, acrylic or silicone that enhance your sight by concentrating on the back of the eye.
There are several IOLs with unique characteristics available. Until surgery, you and your ophthalmologist will negotiate which form of IOL can work best for you and your activities. Some IOLs are hard plastic and are inserted via an incision that takes a few stitches.
During Surgery
Cataract surgery, typically a surgical operation, takes about an hour or less to complete. Firstly, the skin around your eye will be washed with an antiseptic.
You will receive an anaesthetic to numb the region, and you may be provided with a sedative to keep you relaxed. Patients who are given local anaesthetics are often worried that they might unintentionally do something wrong, such as blinking, coughing, or unexpectedly shifting. The eyelids are held open by a tiny clip, so you actually won’t be able to blink.
During cataract surgery, a cloudy lens is replaced with a transparent artificial lens. In certain situations, however, a cataract can be eliminated without the use of an artificial lens.
Typically, two common surgical procedures are used for the removal of cataracts:
Phacoemulsification: During phacoemulsification, the doctor makes a small incision in the front of the eye, known as the cornea, and implants a needle into the lens material where the cataract is developed. This needle transmits ultrasound waves to break the cataract and extract the particles. At the end of the operation, stitches can also be used to cover the tiny cut in your cornea.
Extraction Of Extracapsular Cataract: This is a technique that is less common and involves a wider incision. With this wider incision, the surgeon utilises surgical instruments to extract the front capsule of the lens and the cloudy lens of the cataract. The back capsule of the lens is kept for the artificial lens to settle.
After Surgerya
Your eye may experience itchiness or discomfort for a period ranging from a few days, to a couple of weeks after treatment. Your sight can be distorted at first as your eye recovers and adapts.. You may have excess tears during this period and struggle to see well in the bright sun.
Your doctor will prescribe your eye drops to stop any infection from happening. You’ll not be allowed to lean over, pick up heavy objects, or place any strain on your eye. After a few days, much of the pain is likely to vanish with total healing and excellent vision usually achieved within eight weeks.