What Is Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world, with over 1 million performed per year in the United States alone. The purpose of cataract surgery is to remove your cataract so that your vision can be improved.
Cataract surgery is a proven surgical procedure with predictable results and few complications. Because of the advances in techniques, cataract surgery does not require the extensive recovery periods of years past.
Because of your cataract, you have probably been experiencing:
- Glare in your eyes when looking at bright lights or oncoming car headlights
OR
- Decreased vision to the point where you may no longer pass your driver's test or perform activities in your daily life without difficulty.
Additionally, your doctor may be experiencing difficulty seeing the back of your eye, which is especially important if you have other eye diseases that may need to be monitored or treated.
These are all symptoms that may indicate your cataract is ready to be removed.
Types of Cataract Surgery
There are two types of cataract surgery -- phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery. Your doctor can explain the specific differences between the two and help determine which is better for you.
Phacoemulsification
In this
cataract surgery (which is also known as phaco), a small incision is made on the side of the cornea -- the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. Your doctor inserts a tiny probe into the eye. This device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the lens so that it can be removed by suction. Most cataract surgery today is done by phacoemulsification, also called "small incision cataract surgery."
Extracapsular Surgery
In this type of cataract surgery, your doctor makes a longer incision on the side of the cornea and removes the cloudy core of the lens in one piece. The rest of the lens is removed by suction.
In both types of cataract surgery, after the natural lens has been removed, it often is replaced by an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens. An intraocular lens is a clear, plastic lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. Light is focused clearly by the intraocular lens onto the retina, improving your vision. You will not feel or see the new lens.
Some people cannot have an intraocular lens. They may have another eye disease or have problems during surgery. For these patients, a soft contact lens, or glasses that provide high magnification, may be suggested.
A week or two before cataract surgery, your doctor will do some tests. These tests may include measuring the curve of the cornea and the size and shape of your eye. This information helps your doctor choose the right type of intraocular lens. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before your cataract surgery.
At the hospital or eye clinic, drops will be put into your eye to dilate the pupil. The area around your eye will be cleaned and prepped for surgery.
Cataract surgery usually lasts less than one hour and is almost painless. Many people choose to stay awake during cataract surgery. Others may need to be put to sleep for a short time. If you are awake during cataract surgery, you will be given an anesthetic to numb the nerves in and around your eye.
After cataract surgery, a patch may be placed over your eye. You will rest for a while. Your medical team will watch for any problems, such as bleeding. Most people who have cataract surgery can go home the same day, although you will need someone to drive you home.
Possible Benefits of Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. It also is one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. In about 90 percent of cases, people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward.
You can return quickly to many everyday activities following cataract surgery, but your vision may still be blurry. The healing eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. Ask your doctor when you can resume driving.
If you received an intraocular lens, you may notice that colors are very bright. The intraocular lens is clear, unlike your natural lens, which may have had a yellowish/brownish tint. Within a few months after receiving an intraocular lens, you will become used to improved color vision. Also, when your eye heals, you may need new glasses or contact lenses.
