A cataract is a common eye disorder that can often occur with age and significantly affect your vision. It can cause cloudiness on the lens by breaking proteins of your natural lens and leads to blurry, foggy unclear, and less colorful vision. The good news is that Cataract surgery is a safe and highly effective procedure for restoring your vision. It is a process of removing or replacing an eye lens with an artificial lens. In this blog, we will explore what to expect before, after, and during the cataract surgery:

• Pre-operative preparations for surgery (before surgery)
• Procedure of cataract surgery (day of surgery)
• Post-operative care for cataract surgery (after surgery)

Pre-operative Preparation

To ensure the best results from your cataract surgery, you will be required to go through several essential steps including:

• Consult with the best eye specialist or ophthalmologist to evaluate the severity of the cataract and discuss your medical history. It can assist you in choosing the type of intraocular lens (IOL) that will be implanted during surgery.
• You will undergo a comprehensive eye test or examination to determine the size and curvature of your eye.
• Your ophthalmologist will review your current medications to ensure there are no interactions that could interfere with the surgery.
• Then, you will be prescribed to start eye drop medicine before surgery that can reduce swelling during and after surgery, and also prevent infection.
• Your doctor may suggest to stop taking anticoagulant (under physician guidance) drugs 3-4 days before cataract surgery.

The Procedure of Cataract Surgery

On the day of your surgery, you may be asked not to eat any solid food 6 to 8 hours before your surgery by your ophthalmologist. This surgery can be done on an outpatient basis in an eye hospital or surgery center.

What Will Happen During Surgery?

• During the surgery, your eye will be numbed by administering anesthesia through eye drops or an injection around your eye.
• You can see movement and light during the procedure, you will be awake during surgery.
• Your ophthalmologist will use a special microscope to look into your eye and create a small incision near the edge of your cornea using a laser or blade.
• By using small instruments or equipment they will break the cataract lens, remove it and place a new lens.
• Generally, your eye specialist will not stitch these small incisions because these are self-sealing cuts that will be closed by themselves with time.
• A shield will be placed over your eye, to protect it during the healing process.
• Then, you will be asked to rest in a recovery area for half an hour.
• And then you will be ready to go home.

Post-operative Care

After surgery, it’s crucial to follow the instructions of your ophthalmologist for a smooth recovery. These instructions may include:

• You will need to use prescribed eye drops by following the directions of your eye care specialist.
• Keep away from getting soap and water directly into your eyes.
• Avoid rubbing and pressing your eye and wear eyeglasses to protect your eye.
• When you sleep, wear a protective eye shield.
• Attend your scheduled appointments with your ophthalmologist to monitor your progress and address any concerns.
• Avoid heavy weight lifting and bending for the first few days. Your ophthalmologist will talk with you about how active you can be after surgery.

Lastly

Cataract removal surgery is a well-established and highly effective surgery that helps countless individuals regain or restore their vision with the proper pre-operative preparation, a smooth procedure, and attentive post-operative surgery. if you suspect you have cataracts don’t hesitate to consult with the best eye care specialist or ophthalmologist to discuss options and start your journey towards improved vision.

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Written and Verified by:

DR. SRISHTY SEN

MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology)

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