One of the most common, effective and safest surgeries performed in the United States, according to The National Eye Institute (NEI), cataract removal improves vision in approximately 90 percent of patients undergoing the procedure. Like any other, the surgery carries risks, and not all patients respond the same, but most people can resume many of their normal activities within a few days of having this essentially painless procedure.
Cataracts
Trauma, conditions such as diabetes, prolonged steroid use, and, rarely, congenital abnormalities can cause cataracts, but most occur as you age and worsen slowly, usually not affecting vision until later in life. Age-related cataracts develop when protein deposits build up on the eye lens. This causes foggy spots on the lens that typically increase over time. Cataracts eventually might interfere with vision, sometimes causing images to blur, colors to appear faded or night vision to decrease. Doctors typically recommend surgical removal when the cataract compromises your eyesight to the point of affecting your daily activities.
Before Surgery
To diagnose a cataract, your ophthalmologist typically will perform a complete dilated eye examination that includes visual acuity testing and tonometry to measure the pressure in your eye. One to two weeks before the surgery, your surgeon likely will see you for another exam and take detailed measurements of your eye, including the curve of your cornea. She might ask you to stop any routine medications or supplements you take that increase bleeding risks a few days before the surgery and typically uses this appointment to answer any questions or concerns you have relating to the procedure.
The Procedure
The most common type of cataract surgery is phacoemulsification. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision on the surface of the eye and inserts a tiny device that emits ultrasound waves to break up the lens. The doctor then uses suction to remove the lens fragments and typically implants an artificial lens made of plastic. This new lens eventually becomes part of the eye. Some people cannot have a lens implant because of other eye diseases or problems and wear soft contacts or glasses after cataract removal, according to the NEI. Extracapsular surgery, a second but less common type of cataract removal, involves making a longer incision on the side of the cornea. The surgeon removes the core of the lens in one piece and suctions away any remaining pieces without using ultrasound to break up the lens.
Aftercare
Cataract surgery usually lasts less than an hour, and most patients go home the same day with eye drops and oral pain medication. Your doctor likely will restrict driving for a time. People often report mild itching, discomfort and sensitivity to light for a few days after cataract surgery, according to NEI. Your eye will be bandaged after surgery, and your doctor might have you wear glasses for a time to help protect the eye. Common temporary restrictions include no heavy lifting or bending at the waist to pick up objects. Complete healing takes eight to 10 weeks with return visits to the surgeon during that time to monitor your progress.
Complications
Rare but possible complications include infection, loss of vision, double vision, bleeding and swelling. The experts at NIE advise you to call your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms, experience abnormal drainage or increasing discomfort. Infrequently people with lens implants develop after-cataracts. This occurs when eye tissue covering the lens implant becomes cloudy and causes blurred vision. These cataracts can develop many years or just a few months after surgery.
