Cataract surgery is a procedure done to remove a clouded lens from your eye. When the normally clear lens of an eye becomes cloudy, it’s called a cataract. If you have a cataract, you may feel like you’re looking through a dusty windshield all the time. You may even have difficulty with normal day-to-day activities, such as driving or reading.
If a cataract is disrupting your vision, cataract surgery gives you a new beginning for your sight. Your ophthalmologist has the expertise to diagnose and treat cataracts. No matter what visual disturbances you may have, you benefit by visiting a medical practice with many specialties under one roof.
Can You Prevent Cataracts?
Taking a proactive approach to your overall health may delay or even prevent the development of cataracts and other disorders affecting your vision. Some actions you can take to protect your eye health include:
• Protecting your eyes from sunlight. Wear sunglasses that screen out ultraviolet rays. Hats with wide brims also give you an added layer of protection from harmful UV rays.
• Quitting smoking. Smoking interrupts circulation, vital to your eye health as well as your overall well-being. Your doctor provides strategies to quit.
• Eating a healthy diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables — and not only carrots — while choosing other nutrient-dense foods keeps you as healthy as possible. That includes your eye health.
• Taking vitamin supplements. Vitamins A, C and E, as well as beta-carotene, deliver optimal eye health. Talk to your doctor about taking supplements when you don’t get sufficient amounts of these vital nutrients in your diet.
• Limiting alcohol use. Excessive drinking raises the risk of developing cataracts. Even one drink a day increases your risk by about 10 percent.
Manage any medical conditions you have, such as diabetes. Regular eye exams by your ophthalmologist identifies cataracts early, which delays your need for surgery. Checkups also catch any other problems you may have with eye health.
The Causes and Symptoms of Cataracts
A cataract can develop in one eye or both eyes. The condition usually develops gradually. Symptoms you may notice include:
The symptoms of cataracts sometimes are caused by other eye conditions, so visit your doctor. Make an appointment for a checkup if you experience any of these symptoms.
Consider cataract surgery if you have a cataract that’s making daily activities more difficult. Your eye doctor may also recommend cataract surgery if you have other eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.
Before your surgery date, your ophthalmologist determines the right type of replacement lens to insert during surgery. You may need to use antibiotic drops for a few days before the surgery. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that usually takes an hour or less. You won’t be able to drive after surgery, so ask someone to accompany you.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, you only have surgery for one at a time. The procedures are usually scheduled about four weeks apart. On the day of surgery, your eye is numbed with eyedrops and local anesthetics. You’re given a sedative to help you relax, so you may remain awake, but feel groggy.
Your surgeon creates tiny incisions near the edge of the cornea. The goal here is to break up the lens that has a cataract so it can be removed and replaced with a new lens. You’re ready to go home after a short stay in the recovery room. You may need to use eyedrops and a shield over your eye at first, but your vision improves in a few days.
