How Cataract Surgery Improves Your Vision And How It's Done
Posted on: 26 July 2017
If you have cataracts, you may need surgery at some point in the future. Cataracts grow at different rates, and yours might not need surgery for years. On the other hand, if your cataracts grow quickly and interfere with your vision, then having them removed is the best thing to do. The procedure is fairly simple and quick. It's done as an outpatient at an eye surgery center like Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute. Here's a look at how the surgery can help and how it's done.
How Cataract Surgery Helps Your Vision
Cataracts impact your vision because the lens of your eye becomes discolored and cloudy. The discoloration affects the way you see colors. The cloudiness makes things appear darker and blurry. You may also notice halos around lights or even have double vision. These disturbances make it difficult to drive, read, or go about normal daily activities.
Cataract surgery removes the clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial one. This eliminates the obstructions to your vision, and it may even improve your vision over what it was before you got cataracts. Your eye doctor can choose from a variety of artificial lenses, and some of them can correct for vision problems so your far or near vision is improved. This could possibly reduce your need for eyeglasses.
How The Surgery Is Done
Cataract surgery is done with a local anesthetic, so you'll be awake and alert the entire time. Your eye doctor may give you a sedative to help you relax, but it won't put you to sleep. The doctor may use a scalpel or a laser to make the incision in your eye to remove the lens. Once the lens is out, the new one is slipped into place. You may not need stitches because the incision is so small.
After the surgery, you will wear an eye shield to protect your eye because you'll have a tendency to rub it. You'll be able to go home after the procedure, but someone needs to accompany you to the eye surgery center and drive you home afterward. You won't be able to drive for several days. In addition to not driving, you should avoid bending over or doing anything else that puts pressure on your eye.
Your eye doctor will give you instructions for your recovery period, which usually include putting in eyedrops daily and limiting your activity for a few days. You may feel some discomfort and itching, but these effects clear up quickly.
When You'll Notice Results
Although most of your recovery will be complete in a few weeks, it may take a few months for your eye to heal completely. Right after the surgery, your vision will probably be blurry. In a few days, you may notice a big difference in your vision compared to how it was before the surgery. However, you won't experience the final results for a few months because you'll need to wait until your eye has completely healed. For that reason, if you still need glasses; your eye doctor will have you wait a few months before getting a new prescription.
Cataract surgery may seem daunting, especially if it makes you squeamish to think about having surgery on your eye. However, the end results are worth it when you have improved vision that allows you to continue to drive, read, and appreciate colors.
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