Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is performed to remove the natural lens of your eye, replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is conducted to treat cataracts which occur when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, resulting in light being scattered instead of focused on your retina. As the cloudiness of your eye’s lens worsens, the cataracts will cause your vision to progressively deteriorate.

Cataract Surgery Procedure

Cataract surgery is generally performed on an outpatient basis. Your ophthalmologist will administer eye drops to dilate your pupils. A local or topical anesthetic will numb the region to reduce discomfort.

Your ophthalmologist will clean the skin around your eye and make a small incision. The cataract will be removed through the incision opening and then replaced with an IOL.

There are two primary methods used to remove the cataract during surgery. One method involves the use of an ultrasound-driven instrument which breaks up the cataract before removing it with a suction method. The other surgical option employs special instruments which mechanically break up the cataract into small pieces so that they can be removed directly through the incision point.

Recovery and Follow-Up Care

Once your cataract surgery is completed, your ophthalmologist will place a protective covering over your eye. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home.

Your eye surgeon will prescribe eye drops for you to administer several times a day. It is important to wear your protective eye covering while sleeping or napping for approximately one week following your procedure, and you will need to wear sunglasses to protect your eye under bright light conditions.

In order to ensure proper healing, you must avoid the following for at least one week:

Strenuous activity and heavy lifting
Bending, exercising, or other activities which may place stress on your eye
Allowing water to splash into your eye – you will need to keep your eye closed while showering to ensure it stays dry
Exposure to dust or other infection-causing particles

Learn more by reading Cataract Surgery Recovery.

Cataract Surgery Risks and Complications

Cataract surgery complications are rare and are often easily treated. They include:

Inflammation
Infection
Bleeding
Swelling
Retinal detachment
Glaucoma
Secondary cataract

If you have additional eye conditions, it may increase the risk of complications following cataract surgery. Furthermore, conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration may limit the effectiveness of your cataract surgery. If possible, you will want to treat any other conditions before deciding whether to undergo this procedure.

For more information, please see the following:

To learn more about cataract surgery or to find an ophthalmologist in your area, please contact us today.