Cataract Surgery: Your Pathway to See the World Clearly Again
030620-N-0000L-001 Portsmouth, Va. (Jun. 20, 2003) -- Cmdr. Gary A. Tanner, an ophthamologic surgeon at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, inserts a synthetic lens into the eye of a patient following the removal of cataracts in her left eye. Cataract removal surgery is just one of the services offered at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Sarah Langdon. (RELEASED)
A cataract makes the lens of your eyes cloudy and affects your vision. Moreover, if left untreated, cataracts can even cause total blindness. More than 20 million Americans have cataracts, and a lot of these people are from Modesto, CA. However, the good thing is that surgery can treat the cataract.
You can contact your nearest Eye center in Modesto, CA, and book an appointment with your ophthalmologist for cataract removal. The process is usually harmless, and you can regain clear vision within a few days of the surgery.
Different types of cataract surgeries
Depending on the procedure and technique employed by your ophthalmologist, cataract surgeries can be of two types: manual small-incision cataract surgery and extracapsular surgery.
Manual small-incision cataract surgery
- Most common cataract removal surgery.
- The surgeon makes a tiny opening next to the outer corner of your eye.
- The surgeon inserts a tiny probe and uses ultrasound waves to dissolve the hardened core part of the clouded lens.
- Another small probe removes the remaining residual cataract material by suctioning through the same opening.
Extracapsular surgery
- The surgeon makes a longer opening on the top side of your eye to remove the hardened center part of the lens.
- Residual cataract material is sucked out through the large opening.
- Ultimately, an intraocular lens (IOL) inserted through the opening replaces the removed lens.
- IOL is an artificial lens that doesn’t need care and becomes part of the eye.
Preparing for a cataract surgery
Although cataract removal is one of the most common surgeries performed in the US, here’s what your ophthalmologist may ask you to get ready for a cataract removal surgery:
- Use prescribed eye drops to protect your eyes from any infection.
- Stop taking medications that may cause bleeding during surgery for a while.
- Stop drinking or eating the night before your surgery.
- Clean your eyelashes and eyelids with baby shampoo before your surgery to ensure you wash off any germs in your eyes.
Things to remember after a cataract surgery
While cataract surgery does not take more than 10-20 minutes, it may take more than a couple of days for your vision to fully restore after the surgery. However, it may take as long as two months for your eye to adjust to the replaced lens and entirely recover from the surgery.
Although cataract surgery is very safe, there might be a slight chance of postoperative and intraoperative complications. However, the most common development after a cataract removal surgery is the after-cataract, which happens when a part of the damaged natural lens is not extracted, leading to scarred tissues and blurred vision.
Therefore, it becomes imperative to choose an experienced and skilled ophthalmologist to ensure perfect results after the surgery.
