What Is Cataract Surgery?
What Is A Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that can affect vision. Most cataracts are related to aging and become more common as we get older. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can develop in one or both eyes, but it does not spread from one eye to the other.
Are there other types of cataracts?
Yes. While cataracts are most often associated with aging, they can also develop for other reasons, including:
- Secondary cataract: Cataracts can develop after certain eye surgeries or in people with conditions such as diabetes. Certain medications, including steroids, can also increase the risk.
- Traumatic cataract: A cataract can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years after the injury occurs.
- Congenital cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. These cataracts may be small and not affect vision, while others may require treatment.
- Radiation cataract: Exposure to certain types of radiation can contribute to cataract development.
Examples of Vision With And Without a Cataract
Normal Lens
Cataractous Lens
When are you most likely to have a cataract?
The term “age-related” can be a little misleading. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to develop a cataract. The natural changes that can lead to cataracts may begin as early as your 40s, although cataracts often remain small and have little effect on vision during middle age. As you get older, cataracts become more common and are more likely to affect the way you see.
What are the symptoms of a cataract?
- Cloudy, blurry, or hazy vision.
- Colors that appear faded or less vibrant.
- Increased sensitivity to light or glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear unusually bright, and halos may appear around lights.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye (this symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger).
- Frequent changes in your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription.
These symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, call to schedule an appointment with Southern Eye Associates.
How is Cataract treated?
The symptoms of early cataracts may be improved with new glasses, brighter lighting, antiglare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
What is the common type of cataract surgery?
Phacoemulsification clear cornea sutureless cataract surgery is the most common type of cataract surgery performed.
Common Questions About Cataract Surgery
Are there are different types of lens Implants?
Yes, there are different types of lens implants. During a cataract evaluation, you and your doctor will discuss which lens will work best for you.
There is a basic cataract surgery and an advanced cataract surgery.
What are the risks of cataract surgery?
As with any surgery, cataract surgery poses risks, such as infection and bleeding. Before cataract surgery, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. After surgery, you must keep your eye clean, wash your hands before touching your eye, and use the prescribed medications to help minimize the risk of infection. Serious infection can result in loss of vision.
Is cataract surgery effective?
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgeries 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.
What happens after surgery?
Itching and mild discomfort are common after cataract surgery. Some fluid or discharge may also occur, and your eye may be sensitive to light and touch. If you have discomfort, contact Southern Eye Associates so your doctor can recommend the appropriate treatment. Moderate discomfort should generally improve within a day or two.
For the first few days after surgery, your doctor may prescribe eye drops to help your eye heal and reduce the risk of infection. Your doctor will explain how to use the drops, how often to use them, and what to expect. You may also need to wear an eye shield or glasses to protect your eye. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye.
At home, your doctor may recommend avoiding heavy lifting, bending over, or other strenuous activities while your eye heals. Walking, climbing stairs, and light household activities are generally fine unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Most people are fully healed within about eight weeks, although recovery varies. Your doctor will schedule follow-up exams to monitor your progress.
Can problems develop after surgery?
Problems after cataract surgery are uncommon, but they can occur. These may include infection, bleeding, inflammation, changes in eye pressure, retinal problems, double vision, or loss of vision.
Sometimes the capsule behind the lens implant becomes cloudy and causes blurry vision. This is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and can develop months or years after cataract surgery.
PCO can usually be treated with a laser procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy. During the procedure, your doctor uses a laser to create a small opening in the cloudy capsule so light can pass through more clearly.
Further Reading on Cataract Surgery
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