Cataracts usually get slowly worse over time. Surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the only way to improve your eyesight. Show
Surgery is usually offered on the NHS if your cataracts are affecting your eyesight and quality of life. The decision to have surgery should not be based solely on your eye test (visual acuity) results. You may have other personal reasons for deciding to have surgery, such as your daily activities, hobbies and interests. You can choose to put off having surgery for a while and have regular check-ups to monitor the situation. There are no medicines or eye drops that have been proven to improve cataracts or stop them getting worse. Before the operationBefore surgery, you'll be referred to a specialist eye doctor for an assessment. During the assessment different measurements will be taken of your eyes and your eyesight. The assessment is an opportunity to discuss anything to do with your operation, including:
If you're used to using 1 eye for distance and 1 for reading, which is called monovision, you can ask to stay that way. This usually means you'll get a near-sight lens fitted in 1 eye and a long-sighted lens fitted in the other eye. The operationCataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day. During the operation, the surgeon will make a tiny cut in your eye to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear plastic one. With the NHS, you'll usually be offered monofocal lenses, which have a single point of focus. This means the lens will be fixed for either near or distance vision, but not both. If you go private, you may be able to choose either a multifocal or an accommodating lens, which allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects. Most people will need to wear glasses for some tasks, like reading, after surgery regardless of the type of lens they have fitted. If you have cataracts in both eyes it may be recommended that both eyes are treated on the same day. This procedure is known as immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). ISBCS is usually only recommended for people thought to have a low risk of complications. The surgeon will discuss this with you if this is an option. Otherwise, surgery is done 6 to 12 weeks apart to allow the recovery one eye at a time. Find out more about recovering from cataract surgery Benefits of surgeryAfter cataract surgery you should be able to:
If you have another condition affecting your eyes, such as diabetes or glaucoma, you may still have limited vision, even after successful surgery. Risks of surgeryThe risk of serious complications developing as a result of cataract surgery is estimated at around 1 in 50 cases. These can include:
Most of these serious complications can be treated with medicines or further surgery. There is a very small risk – around 1 in 1,000 – of permanent sight loss in the treated eye as a direct result of the operation. Cataract surgery is a procedure used to restore cataract-related vision loss. During surgery, the clouded lens inside your eye will be replaced with a clear artificial lens. You won't feel any pain during the procedure, and it usually only takes about 15 minutes. It's typically an outpatient procedure and doesn't require an overnight stay in a hospital. Cataract surgery might sound scary at first, but it's one of the safest and most effective vision surgeries available today. Millions of cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, and the vast majority have excellent outcomes. The potential need for cataract eye surgery goes up as you age, when cataracts are most likely to develop or worsen. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cataracts affect:
SEE RELATED: Refractive cataract surgery What happens during cataract surgery?The cloudy lens inside your eye will be removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens during surgery. This device is called an intraocular lens, or IOL for short. An IOL helps restore the clear vision you had before cataracts developed. During any form of cataract removal, special precautions are taken to make sure you're completely relaxed and pain-free. At worst, patients can experience a slight sensation of pressure, but this feeling isn't painful. A modern cataract surgery procedure will often follow these steps:
If you need surgery in both eyes, your cataract surgeon will typically wait one to three weeks between procedures, to give the first eye a chance to heal. SEE RELATED: Different ways cataracts can be treated Two different options for cataract surgeryThe most common type of cataract removal surgery is called phacoemulsification, or phaco for short. A phacoemulsification procedure uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to break up the cloudy lens. The phaco operation is now performed with smaller incisions than ever before, so healing is faster with a much lower risk of complications. Three main types of IOL can be implanted during cataract surgery:
Watch this video about how cataract surgery works. Laser cataract surgery, or Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (ReLACS), is a newer option that uses more recent technology. Instead of ultrasound energy, a special laser is used to break up the existing cataract. The laser uses less energy than ultrasound, which can reduce the risk of complications even more. In some cases, laser surgery can also improve visual outcomes. Laser surgery is usually more expensive than standard phaco cataract surgery. During your cataract removal consultation, your surgeon can help you decide which procedure is best for your individual needs. SEE RELATED: How much does cataract surgery cost? Preparing for cataract surgeryBefore you schedule cataract surgery, your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to check the overall health of your eyes and decide if anything will prevent you from having surgery. The doctor will also perform a refraction test to determine your nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism measurements before surgery. Additional measurements of your eyes will be taken to determine the shape of your eye and which type of implantable lens you'll need. Prior to eye surgery, you'll be informed about what to expect before, during and after your procedure. This information will help you make an informed decision about moving forward with surgery. Your eye doctor will ask about any medications and supplements you're taking. Some of these can increase your risk of complications and may need to be discontinued for a little while. If you have any questions or concerns about cataract surgery, be sure to discuss them with your eye doctor and cataract surgeon before signing the "informed consent" documents that authorize surgery. READ NEXT: What is Peters anomaly (PA)? Cataract surgery recoveryAn uncomplicated cataract surgery procedure only takes about 15 minutes. You can expect to be at the surgical center for 90 minutes or longer, since extra time will be needed for preparation, along with a post-operative evaluation and recovery instructions. You will need to have someone drive you home after cataract surgery. To protect your eye from sunlight and other bright light as it recovers, the facility will give you a special pair of post-operative sunglasses. You will need to use special medicated eye drops for a few weeks. You'll also need to wear your protective eye shield while sleeping or napping for the first week or so. You might experience some eye redness and blurred vision while your eye heals during the first few days or even weeks after surgery. During at least the first week of your recovery, you will need to avoid:
Your cataract surgeon may give you additional instructions, depending on your specific needs and the type of procedure performed. Can you see what they are doing during cataract surgery?During cataract surgery
You'll be awake during surgery, but you won't be able to see what's happening in your eye. Our ophthalmologists at Beverly Hills Institute of Ophthalmology perform cataract surgery using a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser.
How painful is cataract surgery?Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.
How do they perform cataract surgery?Cataract removal: Your provider uses a special microscope to see your eye. They create tiny incisions to reach the lens. Then they use ultrasound waves to break up the lens and remove it. Finally, they place the new lens.
How do they keep your head still during cataract surgery?Tape the patient's head to the operating room table before starting the surgery. I use paper tape to gently hold the patient's head in place during the procedure. Place it over the forehead and use a tape that is gentle and will not damage delicate skin.
|