What to expect before, during and after cataract surgery?
Here are some questions you might ask:
Do I need surgery right away?
If not, how long can I wait?
What are my personal risks?
What benefits can I expect?
If I choose surgery, which type is best for me?
Which lens replacement is best for me?
What are the chances of developing cloudiness in the lens capsule after cataract surgery?
You may wish to write down other questions to ask your doctor to help you make an informed decision about treatment.
Examinations Prior to Cataract Surgery
A patient needs to undergo a complete eye examination by the eye surgeon. This include: Measurement of vision with and without glasses (Visual Acuity)- Determining eyeglass prescription (Refraction)- Microscopic examination of the front part of the eye (Slit lamp biomicroscopy)- Measurement of the pressure inside the eye (Tonometry)- Measurement of the curvature of your cornea (keratometry)- Ultrasonic measurement of the length of your eyeball (axial length)- Intraocular lens calculation (Biometry) to determine the best estimate of the IOL power- Examination of the retina of the eye with your pupils dilated (Funduscopy) Most of the time, the surgeon also refers the patient to the Internist or Cardiologist for cardio-pulmonary clearance.
Before Cataract Surgery
Once you are cleared for surgery, the eye doctor gives a specified date and time for the surgical date. A couple of eye drops will be given to the patient and will be placed on the operated eye a couple of days before the surgery. During the day of surgery, you will be admitted in a special room. Your eye will be dilated by a few hours before the surgery.
Cataract Surgery Anesthesia
In phacoemulsfication surgery, the eye surgeon uses a clear cornea incision. The advantage of this is that only topical eye drop anesthesia is used for the whole procedure. There are very few cases that need retro-bulbar injection of anesthesia.
Phacoemulsification Procedure Duration
It depends on the consistency of the cataract. If the lens is hard then it will take longer for the surgeon to emulsify the lens. The surgical time may range from five to 15 minutes. But the overall preparation of the procedure is around one hour. You will be awake during the surgery and the eye doctor gives a few instructions before the surgery, during and after the operation.
After Cataract Surgery
Immediately after the surgery, the patient is placed in a Lazy-boy sofa and rests for a few minutes. An eye patch or a protective goggles is placed on the eyes for protection. Most patients can go home after the surgery and will be seen the next day by the eye doctor. Instructions (how to place the eye-drops and dos & don’ts, etc.) will be given by the nurse to the patient and the relatives prior to discharge. Follow-up is usually one day, one week, and three weeks after the surgery.
What will the patient feel after the cataract surgery?
It is normal for a patient to feel mild discomfort and foreign body sensation after the surgery. Some patients also feel some itching and tearing. Most of these symptoms will disappear after a day or two. Complete healing is achieved between 3 to 5 weeks after surgery.
What problems can occur after cataract surgery?
Complications can happen after surgery but are very rare. The following problems can occur:
Swelling or clouding of the cornea
Infection inside the eye
IOL dislocation or damage
High pressure of the eye
Retinal detachment
Cystoid macular edema
Swelling of the central part of retina
Severe bleeding inside the eye
Dropping of eyelids
Blindness
If you need to know more about these complications, you can consult your eye surgeon.
When the patient see clearly after cataract surgery?
If the cataract is soft, most likely your vision will improve immediately after surgery. This is due to the fact that soft cataracts are easy to remove and involves less manipulation inside the eye. Harder catarcts will need longer phaco time to remove the lens, therefore increasing the chance of corneal swelling. Vision will then be still cloudy after surgery and will improve gradually during the next couple of days.
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