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.
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.
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.
There are different methods of performing this operation but the most common one used is referred to as "phacoemulsification". An incision is made in the side of the cornea and the damaged lens is removed by suction. The artificial lens replacing the natural one is manufactured out of clear plastic. In about 90% of patients this procedure is a success.
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.
The patient will be treated on an out-patient basis at an eye clinic or hospital. A local anesthetic to numb the feeling in the eye is usually all that's needed but in some instances a general anesthesia may be given. The whole procedure takes about an hour and very little pain is involved.
Immediately after the surgery, the treated eye will have a patch placed on it and the patient will be told to rest. Once it has been determined that there are no complications, patients can go home as long as they have someone to drive them. Some itchiness, slight discomfort, or liquid discharge may be present for one or two days at most.
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.
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.
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.
There are different methods of performing this operation but the most common one used is referred to as "phacoemulsification". An incision is made in the side of the cornea and the damaged lens is removed by suction. The artificial lens replacing the natural one is manufactured out of clear plastic. In about 90% of patients this procedure is a success.
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.
The patient will be treated on an out-patient basis at an eye clinic or hospital. A local anesthetic to numb the feeling in the eye is usually all that's needed but in some instances a general anesthesia may be given. The whole procedure takes about an hour and very little pain is involved.
Immediately after the surgery, the treated eye will have a patch placed on it and the patient will be told to rest. Once it has been determined that there are no complications, patients can go home as long as they have someone to drive them. Some itchiness, slight discomfort, or liquid discharge may be present for one or two days at most.
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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