Cataract Surgery Treatment

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is a procedure for removing the lens of the eye and, in most of the cases, replaces the defective lens with an artificial lens. Normally, the lens of the eye is clear. A cataract results in the lens to become cloudy, which eventually affects the vision. Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) on an outpatient basis, which means the patients don't have to stay in the hospital after the surgery has been performed. Cataract surgery can be performed traditionally by the use of ultrasound energy for removing the cloudy lens or it can be removed with the help of the laser-assisted technology. Cataract surgery is usually safe and very common.

Who should have the surgery?

If the patients have a cataract, that doesn't always mean the patients require the surgery. The people may not even notice any change in their vision. Some people who have this condition see just fine if they wear prescription glasses, the patients use a magnifying lens, or they rely on brighter lighting. But as cataracts grow, cataracts can result in more symptoms. The patients could have blurred, yellow, or dull vision. The patients may also have double vision when they are looking at things through their eye with the cataract. These problems can make it hard for the person to work on a computer, to read, and do any other things that require clear eyesight. The patients may have poor night vision and find it difficult to drive when it is night or dark. People who are having advanced cataracts might even fail in the vision part of a driver's test. Cataracts can make people even more sensitive to glare from the sun. The people might view a halo around the bright lights. This can refrain them from being outdoors as much as they want to. The cataract also makes it harder for people to play some sports, such as golf or skiing. If the people have any of these symptoms, they must undergo surgery which would help them. Sometimes the people might even require surgery even if their cataract does not bother them. The doctor may suggest the surgery if the cataract makes it hard for the patients to get a clear view of the back of their eye during an eye exam.

What are the risks involved?

Complications after cataract surgery are quite uncommon, and can mostly be treated successfully.

Cataract surgery risks can include the following:

• Inflammation
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Drooping eyelid
• Dislocation of an artificial lens
• Retinal detachment
• Glaucoma
• Secondary cataract
• Loss of vision

The patient’s risk of complications is greater if they have another eye disease or have a serious medical condition. Sometimes, cataract surgery fails to improve the patient’s vision due to the underlying eye damage from other conditions, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. If possible, it may be beneficial to evaluate and treat other eye problems before making the decision to undergo cataract surgery.

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What does the procedure involve?

Two very small cuts (one smaller, approximately one millimeter and one larger, approximately three millimeters) are made in the cornea in the eye, which is the transparent dome-shaped tissue that covers the frontal part of the patient’s eye. A viscous (sticky, thick, glue-like) material is injected into the frontal part of the patient’s eye to help in maintaining its shape during its operation. This viscous material is made up of the substances that occur naturally in the human body. Because it is thick, this viscous material will not leak out of the cuts during the operation.

What if The Patient’s Vision Gets Cloudy Even after the Surgery?

Sometimes after the cataract operation, the patients may find that objects start to appear cloudy again. This cloudiness occurs due to a lens capsule (the part of the patient’s eye that holds the new artificial lens in its place) starts to thicken up. The patients may hear from their doctor who may call this by its medical name called posterior capsule opacification. The problem may not be visible right away. The patients may notice the problems months or even years later. The doctor may recommend a procedure known as YAG for fixing it. A surgeon opens up the thickening around the lens capsule by the use of the laser and this lets more light to get pass through their artificial lens. This procedure will clear up the patient’s cloudy vision.

How the patients should prepare for the cataract surgery?

To prepare for the cataract surgery, the patient’s may be asked to:

• Undergo tests: A week or so before the patient’s surgery, the doctor will perform a painless ultrasound test for measuring the shape and the size of the patient’s eye. This will help in determining the right type of lens to be implanted (IOL, or intraocular lens).
• Stop taking certain medications: The doctor may advise the patients to stop taking certain medication temporarily; these medications could increase the risk of bleeding during the surgery. The patients must tell the doctors what medications they are taking as some of these medications can interfere with the cataract surgery.
• Use eye drops to reduce infection risk: Antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed to the patients for use one or two days before the operations.
• Fast before surgery: The patients may be instructed not to drink or eat anything 12 hours before the surgery.
• Prepare for the recovery: Normally the patients can go home on the same day as their surgery being performed, but the patients won't be able to drive, so they arrange for a ride home. Also, they must arrange for help around the home, if required, because the doctor may limit activities, such as lifting and bending, for about a week after the surgery has been performed.

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