Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is an operation that is done to remove the lens of your eye. In this procedure the lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial one in most cases. This surgery is used to treat a cataract, which is basically a clouding or opification on the lens of your eye that affects your vision.

A cataract surgery is undertaken by an ophthalmologist and the patient can attend as an outpatient. That means that after the surgery, so it is not necessary to remain in hospital afterwards. A doctor may suggest this kind of surgery if the cataract affects your performance of daily activities. Cataracts cause blurry vision and increased glare from lights. Most people who suffer from cataracts usually have other conditions such as diabetes or retinopathy.

Cataract Surgery, Facts

Cataract surgery is suggested for most individuals who have great vision loss. But if you have another eye disease that is not related to cataracts that affects your vision, your doctor may not recommend surgery. Complications after cataract surgery are not common and if present they can be successfully treated.

However, there are some risks associated with cataract surgery such as inflammation, bleeding, swelling, glaucoma, infection and secondary cataracts. In some cases too cataract surgery may fail to improve vision if there are eye damages from other diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Therefore, it is of key importance to treat such eye problems before undertaking a cataract surgery. Before undergoing the procedure, your doctor may advise you to stop certain medications temporarily that could increase your chance of bleeding during the surgery. You may also be advised to fast for at least 12 hours before the surgery.

Cataract Surgery

There are three types of cataract surgery which are phacoemulsification, intracapsular and extracapsular surgery. In phacoemuslsification, a tiny incision is made on the side of the cornea and a tiny probe is inserted in the eye.

The probe discharges ultrasound waves that make the lens tender and break it up to enable it to be removed by suction. The back of your lens remains intact to act as a position holder for the artificial lens to rest. This procedure is complete in less than half an hour and it requires minimal sedation.

Extracapsular cataract surgery method is mainly used for advanced cataracts where the lens is very thick for emulsification. This method requires a deeper incision than phacoemulsification so that the cataract can be removed in one piece without breaking in the eye. From there, an artificial lens is placed in the same place as the natural one. The procedure requires some stitches to seal the wound and visual recovery takes longer. This method also requires some numbing shots or medication around the eye and an eye patch after the procedure.

The third and final method is the intracapsular cataract surgery. This procedure requires a larger incision than extracapsular method because it involves removing the lens and also the complete lens capsule as one piece. This method requires an intraocular lens to be placed infront of the iris. The method is rarely used but it can be very useful in cases of advanced trauma.

Cataract Surgery, Concluded

The vision of the eye improves within a few days after a cataract surgery. Some eye drops or other forms of medication may be prescribed to prevent infection after the surgery. After the operation you only stay in the doctor’s office for about an hour to monitor the eye pressure then from there you are discharged to go home. So, there is no need to be worried if you are facing an operation for cataract surgery.


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