All you need to know before Cataract Surgery For a layman, Cataract means blurred vision or like seeing through a frosted glass window. But in medical terminology, a cataract refers to a dense, cloudy area that forms in the clear lens of the eye causing difficulty in seeing. A person affected by a cataract starts facing problems in reading, driving, and other general day-to-day activities of life. Since cataract develops over a period of time, most people use eyeglasses to deal with the problem of blurred vision. But after a point, the impaired vision starts adversely affecting your quality of life and there exists no natural cure for it. That’s when patients decide to go for Cataract surgery. Cataract Surgery is a totally safe, effective, and hassle-free procedure. Read it again. Because even if it is one of the safest surgical treatments; it doesn’t mean you don’t ask your doctor a few questions before opting for cataract surgery. Sharing all you need to know before cataract surgery in this article. Read it once and make sure to address all your doubts about cataract, cataract surgery, or recovery after cataract surgery in detail – ● When to opt for cataract surgery – Some people are born with cataracts while some develop them as they age. The reason for opting for the surgery is the same in both cases – if you are not able to see clearly and even glasses are not helping, you should consult an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) immediately. Seeing the double vision, hypersensitivity to light, and seeing faded colors are also some signs to opt for cataract surgery. Untreated cataracts can damage your eyes and cause loss of vision permanently so ignoring cataracts even if it’s in one eye can be fatal. ● What happens during cataract surgery – A cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear man-made lens. It is as safe as it sounds especially when done by an expert eye surgeon of your city. Generally, uncomplicated cataract surgeries are over in 30 to 60 minutes including the time for Anaesthesia. But complications may happen depending upon the severity of your problem which should be discussed with your doctor in advance. If you are opting for cataract surgery in both eyes, you need to understand that your surgeon would do the surgery on one eye first and wait for it to heal, and then do the procedure on the other one.
● What to do before the cataract surgery – There are no special instructions given to the patients for the pre-surgery phase. However, your doctor would call you a week or two before the surgery date and take the measurement of the shape and size of your eyes so that the best-fitted artificial lens can be arranged. Your cataract surgeon may ask you to avoid alcohol or tobacco for at least 24-hours before the surgery. There is no need to worry or be anxious about the surgery since it is a lowrisk surgery in 99% of the cases. ● What should be done or not done after the surgery – Now, comes the main part. Yes, there are a lot of instructions that you must follow post-cataract surgery. Since cataract surgery is a routine treatment, most of the patients are able to resume their work mode after 2-3 days. However, your eyes take a little more time to heal so we are sharing a list of dos and don’ts to follow post-cataract surgery: - Don’t indulge in swimming, gyming, yoga, running, or physical training without the doctor’s permission - Resume driving only when you feel comfortable. Choose to give your eyes good rest for at least 24 to 48 hours. - Wear sunglasses if going out to avoid direct sun exposure - Protect your eyes from dirt or dust for at least 3 days after the cataract surgery - Your doctor would recommend some antibiotic eye drops which you should use religiously as per the doctor’s prescription - Don’t rub your eye or apply kajal or makeup for at least a week - Remember if you have a cataract in both eyes, you can go for surgery of the second eye only when the first eye heals. So to ensure binocular vision, follow the doctor’s instructions properly ● Is cataract surgery always successful – You should not expect crystal clear vision immediately after the cataract surgery. Blurriness or clouded vision is normal postcataract surgery; however, it would clear in a few days. It is highly successful in addressing the issue of visual impairment. For best results, we recommend that you follow your ophthalmologist’s instructions of wearing the protective eye shield and following a post-surgery care routine. The results vary from person to person depending on their age, health quotient, co-existing medical conditions like diabetes,
and the seriousness of the cataract. Healing and results may take time but medical research reports that 9 out of 10 people can see better and clearer post-cataract surgery. we provide one of the best cataract surgery in Delhi you can contact us.