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.
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.
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.
Most surgeons use a method known as "phacoemulsification", which involves making an incision in the cornea's side through which the damaged lens will be removed by suction and the new, artificial lens will be inserted. These synthetic lenses are made from clear plastic. Generally 90% of patients will experience a marked improvement from this procedure.
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.
Upon completion of the surgery, the eye is covered with a patch and the patient can rest for awhile. If the doctor is convinced that there are no complications, the patient can go home, but he or she will need someone there to drive. The eye will likely be tender and a bit itchy, possibly with some discharge for one or two days, but this should subside after this time.
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.
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.
Most surgeons use a method known as "phacoemulsification", which involves making an incision in the cornea's side through which the damaged lens will be removed by suction and the new, artificial lens will be inserted. These synthetic lenses are made from clear plastic. Generally 90% of patients will experience a marked improvement from this procedure.
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.
Upon completion of the surgery, the eye is covered with a patch and the patient can rest for awhile. If the doctor is convinced that there are no complications, the patient can go home, but he or she will need someone there to drive. The eye will likely be tender and a bit itchy, possibly with some discharge for one or two days, but this should subside after this time.
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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