Author: Campus Eye

What Is Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is performed to take the lens of your eyeball and typically replace it with one that is artificial. Cataracts cause cloudy lenses and make it hard for the person with the condition to see. The surgery is done as an outpatient procedure by an ophthalmologist. This procedure is common and quite safe.

Risks Involved With Cataract Surgery

There are rarely any complications when cataract surgery is performed and most that do occur are treated with high success rates.
The risks include the following possibilities:

• Infection
• Bleeding in the retina
• Swelling
• The eyelid may droop
• The artificial lens can possibly slip
• The detachment of the retina is possible
• Glaucoma
• Losing vision
• A second cataract can develop

If macular degeneration, glaucoma, or other medical conditions are present the risks are greater. Your opthalmologist can evaluate if treatment for other eye conditions is necessary before the consideration of cataract surgery. If you are predisposed to infection, your specialist may prescribe antibiotic eye drops that need to be administered for up to two days before the surgery.

Post-surgical Precautions

Typically patients go home the same day as their procedure, but be aware that you cannot drive yourself and will need somebody with you to take you home. You will need help for about a week if your doctor tells you to be easy on your body. Bending and lifting can put a strain on the eyes, therefore it is not advised to be overly active during the first week of recovery.

Once the procedure has been performed, your ability to see will start to get better within a few days. Your sight may be a bit blurred as the process of healing begins to adjust your eyes to the new lenses.

With new lenses, the colors that you see will likely seem to be more vivid and bright since you are no longer looking through clouds. Cataracts tend to mute colors and patients sometimes don’t realize just how much the condition affected their vision.

You will typically return to your specialist up to two days after your procedure, and again the next week. Once you hit a month post-op, you will have another appointment to be sure you are healing properly.

The first few days after you have the surgery itching and discomfort are normal. Try not to rub your eyes or push on them. It’s possible that the specialist may want you to wear an eye patch to protect and shield your eye on the day of the operation. Some doctors will have their patients wear a shiel that will protect the eye(s) for several days post-op and every night during the time of recovery.

Eyedrops may be prescribed by the ophthalmologist to avoid the risk of infection and bring down any swelling or ocular pressure you may have. Some of these medications can be administered by injection directly into the eye during the operation. Your discomfort should be gone after a few days and you should begin to see improvement healing. It will take approximately eight weeks for the patient to be completely healed.

If you have any of the following symptoms you should get in contact with your specialist immediately:

• Loss of vision
• Pain that does not reduce even after using OTC pain relievers
• Redness or swelling of the eyelid and surrounding areas of the eye
• Flashes of light or floating spiders in front of the eye

It’s not uncommon for patients to need glasses for at least a short period of time after surgery. Your specialist will wait until your healing is complete to give you a prescription for permanent glasses if they are needed. This can take anywhere from one month up to three months before complete healing is achieved.

If you have cataracts in both of your eyes the second surgery is normally not performed until after the first eye has healed. Both eyes are not typically operated on at the same time as it will leave the patient with no vision for at all for some time.

As we become older, the lenses inside our eyes get yellow, harden, and become cloudy. This opaque change of the lens is a cataract which prevents light from penetrating the lens. Cataracts can develop in both eyes symmetrically or more noticeable in one eye, but you cannot have multiple cataracts per eye, they cannot “jump” from one eye to the other, and they are not contagious. How can you know whether you need to consult an eye doctor? Signs that point to early detection include difficulty seeing at night, appearance of halos and glare, cloudy vision, and increased light sensitivity.

Difficulty Seeing at Night

People with the early stages of cataracts say they have worsening of the nighttime vision. Cataracts can cause vision to dim or darken, making good vision more difficult. People that have early stage cataracts may not notice these vision changes during the day because daylight can compensate for worsening of the vision. However, the worsened vision may be noticeable at night. Cataracts distort light that enters your eyes and as a result you may see halos around lights. When you have difficulty seeing at night, it is time for an eye exam.

Appearance of Halos and Glare

You are driving and you notice the oncoming cars’ headlights are not two distinct points. Instead, they have multiple rings or shadows around them. It could be a sign of the beginning of cataracts, and you would benefit from the eye exam to make sure your vision is still good for driving.

Cloudy Vision

Another sign of cataracts is foggy or filmy vision. As the cataract gets worse, less and less light gets through the lens of the eye to the retina. This is related to halos and glare. If you notice that your vision becomes more and more hazy, you should consider removing the cataracts.

Increased Light Sensitivity

Usually, when one is young, sensitivity to light only appears when looking at the sun. However, when one becomes uncomfortable with the ordinary headlights and/or home lights, it can be a sign of cataracts. The increased need for darker sunglasses can also be another sign of cataracts. Since nearly 1/3 of blindness is because of untreated cataracts, it makes sense to stay on top of your eye health. Maybe you just need to update your glasses, but maybe you do have cataracts. A visit with Campus Eye Group can help to put your mind at ease when you are concerned about your eye health.

When you reach about 40 years of age, you may start noticing that your eyes begin to change. At first, you may simply ignore the change and not think much of it. But as time continues to pass, you may notice it is harder to read or see things close up.

These eye changes are normal due to your age. It is called “presbyopia”, and it means you will need to use reading glasses to comfortably read small print from now on.

It is essential that you have a comprehensive eye exam regularly. You need a regular eye exam because many eye diseases do not come with red flags or early warning signs. However, a comprehensive dilated eye exam can detect eye disease while it is in the early stages. By detecting a problem early, it will be easier to manage for years to come.

You may wonder, what are some other age-related eye conditions?

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

For people over 50 years of age, this condition is the leading reason for the loss of sight. There is a small spot near the center of your eye called the macula. The macula is responsible for your central vision, the loss of which can set limits in your life. AMD can restrict your ability of face-recognition, driving, reading, writing, or any activity that requires you to look close. Risk factors for AMD are:

• Age (over 60 usually)
• Smoking
• Family History and Genetics

Dry Eye

Sometimes as you get older, your tear ducts do not work like they used to. The quantity or quality of the tears from your tear duct is not enough to keep your eyes lubricated. This ends up feeling like sand is in your eye or it may feel scratchy. You may also have other symptoms, such as:

• Burning
• Pain
• Redness in the Eye
• Excessive tearing

Here are some of the other reasons that may contribute to your dry eye condition:

• Advancing Age
• Medications
• Rosacea
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Windy or Dry Environments

If you are suffering from this condition, it is essential to make an appointment with the eye doctor to get some relief.

Low Vision

Even though you may wear glasses or contact lenses, you may still have a hard time seeing. Some of the health or eye conditions that can cause low vision are:

• AMD
• Cataracts
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Birth defects

In treating this condition, it is crucial to catch it early. The earlier the doctor finds the problem, the more likely they can help you preserve as much of your vision as possible.

Here are some of the warning signs:

If you have a hard time…

• Recognizing the faces of people you know
• Reading, cooking, fix-it work
• Choosing and matching your clothes
• Seeing clearly with the lights on
• Read large signs with driving or department store signs

If you have any of these signs, it is essential to make an appointment for a complete comprehensive eye exam with dilation. The phone call can preserve your sight.

Today we just covered a few of the eye conditions you may experience as you grow older. Whether you have these symptoms or not, the most important piece of information to take from this article is the need for a comprehensive eye exam. If you have not had an exam in the last year, it is time to call and make an appointment. Before you feel regret and you have lost some of your vision. Call Campus Eye Group at (609)587-2020 and make your eye appointment today.