When the lens in the eye becomes clouded this is known as a cataract and it negatively affects vision by causing images to appear blurry. It may occur in both eyes or just one and is most often related to aging. Initially it can sometimes be improved by a new eyeglasses prescription, although in many cases surgery is the only real long-term solution. Before undergoing cataract surgery Orange County patients need to be aware of all it involves.
Surgical correction of cataracts consists of replacing the cloudy, damaged lens with an artificial one. If the patient is having difficulty carrying out basic activities involving the use of the eyes such as driving or reading, usually surgery will be advised. Fortunately, patients can take their time to decide whether to go ahead with the procedure since waiting itself does not pose a risk to the eye.
Presence of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration may also indicate the need for cataract removal. If the patient attends regular eye exams, it will become apparent if surgical correction is suitable. In cases where cataracts need to be removed from both eyes, they will be done separately, with a month or two in between.
The most commonly used method of performing this operation is "phacoemulsification" in which an incision is made along the side of the cornea to facilitate removal of the clouded lens. An artificial lens is inserted in place of the natural one, and it is made from clear plastic. Typically this procedure is effective in 90% of patients.
A week or two before the patient is scheduled for surgery, certain tests will need to be done to measure the curve of the patient's cornea and the shape and size of the eye, so the best artificial lens can be chosen. Patients will normally be advised not to eat or drink anything in the twelve hours before the operation.
Done as an out-patient operation in a hospital or eye clinic, the patient is usually given a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in the eye although sometimes a general anesthetic will be administered but this is not necessary in most cases. Little pain is involved and the whole procedure generally takes an hour at most.
Following the operation, a patch will be positioned over the treated eye and the patient will be ordered to rest awhile. If no problems are apparent, patients will be able to go home shortly after provided they have a ride. It's normal to expect some minor discomfort and itching or fluid discharge in the eye afterwards but this should dissipate after a day or two.
Instilling eyedrops for a few days as this helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Glasses or an eye shield will also need to be worn and it should be acceptable to resume a moderate level of activity. Regular check-ups will monitor the healing process and in most cases, eight weeks after cataract surgery Orange County patients can look forward to a full recovery.
Surgical correction of cataracts consists of replacing the cloudy, damaged lens with an artificial one. If the patient is having difficulty carrying out basic activities involving the use of the eyes such as driving or reading, usually surgery will be advised. Fortunately, patients can take their time to decide whether to go ahead with the procedure since waiting itself does not pose a risk to the eye.
Presence of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration may also indicate the need for cataract removal. If the patient attends regular eye exams, it will become apparent if surgical correction is suitable. In cases where cataracts need to be removed from both eyes, they will be done separately, with a month or two in between.
The most commonly used method of performing this operation is "phacoemulsification" in which an incision is made along the side of the cornea to facilitate removal of the clouded lens. An artificial lens is inserted in place of the natural one, and it is made from clear plastic. Typically this procedure is effective in 90% of patients.
A week or two before the patient is scheduled for surgery, certain tests will need to be done to measure the curve of the patient's cornea and the shape and size of the eye, so the best artificial lens can be chosen. Patients will normally be advised not to eat or drink anything in the twelve hours before the operation.
Done as an out-patient operation in a hospital or eye clinic, the patient is usually given a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in the eye although sometimes a general anesthetic will be administered but this is not necessary in most cases. Little pain is involved and the whole procedure generally takes an hour at most.
Following the operation, a patch will be positioned over the treated eye and the patient will be ordered to rest awhile. If no problems are apparent, patients will be able to go home shortly after provided they have a ride. It's normal to expect some minor discomfort and itching or fluid discharge in the eye afterwards but this should dissipate after a day or two.
Instilling eyedrops for a few days as this helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Glasses or an eye shield will also need to be worn and it should be acceptable to resume a moderate level of activity. Regular check-ups will monitor the healing process and in most cases, eight weeks after cataract surgery Orange County patients can look forward to a full recovery.
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