What Should I Ask My Doctor Before Cataract Surgery?
August 19, 2024
Are you considering cataract surgery? This common procedure can dramatically improve your vision and quality of life, but it's natural to have questions and concerns.
Keep reading to learn some questions you should ask your doctor before cataract surgery!
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process and occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making it more difficult to see clearly. It can feel like you're looking through a foggy or hazy window, and sometimes, it becomes difficult to read or drive at night.
Though cataracts can be managed temporarily, they will eventually need treatment, or the condition will continue to worsen, causing vision loss and, ultimately, blindness. The good news is that cataracts are treatable, and cataract surgery is a common and safe procedure.
The most common type of cataract surgery involves removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with a new intraocular lens or IOL.
Why Did I Get Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common eye condition, and clouding of the natural lenses often starts as young as forty but is more noticeable by the age of sixty, which is when the normal proteins in the eye lens begin to break down. If you have a family history of cataracts or certain medical conditions, including diabetes, you may be more prone to developing cataracts earlier in life.
Other factors that can increase your chances of developing cataracts earlier in life include having an eye injury, eye surgery, or if your eyes have been damaged by the sun's ultraviolet rays. The first step in determining if you have cataracts is to schedule an eye examination with a qualified physician at SIEHT.
Once you have been diagnosed with cataracts, your doctor will explain treatment options to you. Cataracts will not go away on their own. As they progress, your vision will continue to worsen.
Schedule a Cataract Evaluation
How Do I Know If I Need Cataract Surgery?
The first step in determining if you need cataract surgery is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your trusted eye physician. At that appointment, the eye doctor will check the overall health of your eyes and determine the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism prior to surgery.
Your eye doctor will take measurements of your eyes to determine their length and curvature. This helps your cataract surgeon choose the best intraocular lens for you to give you the best possible results after cataract surgery.
What Are My Choices For a New Lens?
During cataract surgery, your eye doctor will replace your cloudy natural lens with a brand new intraocular lens or IOL. You will not feel the IOL once it is implanted in the eye, and no one will notice it.
It simply becomes a part of your eye. There are many choices patients have for intraocular lenses to provide clearer vision.
Some IOLs correct vision at one distance, whereas others will correct vision at multiple distances. Depending on which IOL you chose, you may need to continue to wear glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery.
Some IOLs can correct for the full range of vision, allowing you to significantly reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. During your exam, your eye doctor will discuss all of your lens options with you to determine what fits your budget and lifestyle.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery?
Before beginning the surgery, the doctor will numb your eye with a topical or local anesthetic. The procedure may last between twenty to thirty minutes and will involve removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens.
The eye doctor will ask you to wear an eye patch while your eye heals, especially while sleeping. Someone will need to drive you home from the procedure.
The doctor may also prescribe antibiotic eye drops for you to use during the healing process to prevent infection. You will have a follow-up appointment soon after the procedure so your eye doctor can check your healing progress.
If a patient has cataracts in both eyes, the eye doctor will operate on one eye first. Your second surgery will be scheduled some weeks or even months later.
Some people may still need glasses after their procedure, but their vision will be much stronger and clearer overall.
Schedule a Cataract Evaluation
What is The Recovery Like After Cataract Surgery?
Though the eye doctor will explain more about the recovery process to you in person, there are a few steps you can take to ensure the best possible outcome from your cataract surgery.
Follow All Instructions
Follow the eye doctor's instructions and wear the bandage or eye patch over your eye while it heals. This will keep you from rubbing your eyes.
It is common for your eye to feel scratchy or uncomfortable after surgery. Use the eye drops as directed to soothe your eyes and also prevent infection.
Rest After the Procedure
Take it easy and rest after cataract surgery. You will need a ride home from the appointment. Though you may feel well enough to resume activities, you should not overdo it and should avoid vigorous exercise or physically taxing projects for a week afterwards.
Protect Your Eyes
Avoid getting things in your eye, including makeup, face lotion, or sunscreen. Keep shampoo and conditioner out of your eye when you're in the shower, and stay out of pools or other bodies of water that could result in introducing bacteria into your eye and cause an infection.
Go To Your Follow-Up Appointments
Make sure you go to all of your follow-up appointments so your eye doctor can check on your eye and make sure it is healing properly. Though it is normal to have some blurry vision immediately after surgery, it should go away in one to three days.
Call Your Eye Doctor If Needed
Call your doctor right away if you have increasing eye pain, redness or swelling, worsening eyesight or discharge from your eye.
Are you experiencing symptoms of cataracts? Schedule a cataract evaluation at SIEHT in Fredericksburg, VA, today!