Cataracts are a disease of the eye in which the vision becomes blurred due to the clouding of the lens. This problem may occur in both eyes or in one alone, and is usually a result of aging, but may be caused by other factors as well. When the cataract is first detected, simply adjusting the eyeglasses prescription may bring some improvement, but eventually an operation will be necessary for more permanent results. When thinking about cataract surgery Orange County patients need to speak with their eye doctor and get all the facts about it first.
The surgical procedure consists of extracting the affected lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial one. If the patient is experiencing difficulty with daily visual activities like reading and driving, usually surgery will be recommended. Patients normally have time to decide if this is the best decision however, since waiting does not generally cause further deterioration.
Occasionally surgery will also be indicated when the presence of the cataract impedes the necessary treatment of other eye conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Through regular eye exams the doctor should recognize if operating on the eye is the most appropriate solution. If both eyes require surgery, usually there will be a month or two between each procedure.
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.
Preparation for the surgery is started a week or two before it is scheduled. Tests will be done to assess the size and shape of the patient's eye and the curve of the cornea, as this information will be needed for selecting the correct artificial lens. Usually the patient will not be permitted to eat or drink anything for twelve hours prior to 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.
Eyedrops will need to be administered for several days to promote healing and prevent infection and the eye should be protected with glasses or an eye patch. Light, moderate activity may be resumed and in eight weeks following cataract surgery Orange County patients should expect a full recovery. The healing process will be monitored by routine check-ups throughout this period.
The surgical procedure consists of extracting the affected lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial one. If the patient is experiencing difficulty with daily visual activities like reading and driving, usually surgery will be recommended. Patients normally have time to decide if this is the best decision however, since waiting does not generally cause further deterioration.
Occasionally surgery will also be indicated when the presence of the cataract impedes the necessary treatment of other eye conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Through regular eye exams the doctor should recognize if operating on the eye is the most appropriate solution. If both eyes require surgery, usually there will be a month or two between each procedure.
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.
Preparation for the surgery is started a week or two before it is scheduled. Tests will be done to assess the size and shape of the patient's eye and the curve of the cornea, as this information will be needed for selecting the correct artificial lens. Usually the patient will not be permitted to eat or drink anything for twelve hours prior to 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.
Eyedrops will need to be administered for several days to promote healing and prevent infection and the eye should be protected with glasses or an eye patch. Light, moderate activity may be resumed and in eight weeks following cataract surgery Orange County patients should expect a full recovery. The healing process will be monitored by routine check-ups throughout this period.
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