Recently, I noticed that people are scared of going for cataract surgery. The reason is that people are thinking about how possible it is for the eyes, a sensitive part of the body, to undergo severe pain. It is easy for them to end up in assumptions since they don’t know what cataract surgery is all about. I know you might have heard that the best and safest way to resolve cataracts is by undergoing cataract surgery. In this article, you will get to know the meaning of cataracts, the meaning of cataract surgery, how to prepare for cataract surgery, and some other facts that you ought to know.
If you see symptoms like the glare of light, trouble seeing at night, double vision, inability to drive at night, astigmatism, and other signs, you need to know some facts about this surgery. The reason is that the only perfect way to resolve your cataract eye problem is by going through cataract surgery. Let us take it one after the other for better understanding.
What is a cataract?
Cataracts occur when there’s a solid or cloudy zone in the eye’s lens. This eye problem regularly begins when the protein in the eye generates clumps that prevent the lens from sending or transporting clear images to the retina. Don’t forget that the work of the retina is to change the light that comes via the lens into signals. Also, the retina leads calls to the optic nerve before the brain receives them. One fearful thing about cataract is that it occurs bit by bit and if one joke with it, it could result in total blindness.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is eradicating the affected natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one. This surgery is done or carried out by a professional ophthalmologist. I can boldly tell you that everyone that has gone through this process can say something good about it. It is not as scary as it sounds to the ears. In some parts of the world, people get scared whenever they hear “surgery.” You don’t need any flattering words before you believe that the only way to restore one’s vision perfectly is by undergoing cataract surgery. It is the easiest and the safest method of getting one’s eye back to work. Don’t be deceived. People can tell you that all you need is eyeglasses. I am not saying eyeglasses cannot work. But I know that eyeglasses cannot perfectly correct your lens as undergoing this surgery would do.
How to prepare for cataract surgery
If you’ve been diagnosed with this eye problem and your eye doctor has confirmed that you’ll be going for cataract surgery, you need to start preparing. Every fact I will talk about here is what a competent surgeon will tell you. So, it’s good to have background knowledge before meeting the doctor. The first thing you must have in mind is that you’ll be doing a series of tests. The test will give out the best result about the condition of your eyes. Not only that, but your eye doctor will also use tests to know the shape and the size of your lens. Remember, cataract surgery is eradicating the damaged lens and replacing it with an artificial one. So, the test carried out on your eyes will show your lens’s size and shape. This will help your surgeon pick the exact artificial lens that would suit your eyes. Furthermore, let me quickly chip in this that part of your preparation for cataract surgery is to avoid eating or drinking for twelve hours before the surgery. These are the things l think you need to know.
What are the actions during cataract surgery?
You don’t need to sleep during this surgery. The surgeon will numb your eye with medicine. So you won’t feel any pain. Also, your surgeon will give you medications that will enable you to feel relaxed. Then, the actual process that would last for forty-five minutes will begin. The ophthalmologist will make a tiny cut in front of your eye. He (surgeon) will put in a small tool to break the damaged natural lens and carefully bring it out. The next stage is to fix the artificial lens carefully. An artificial lens is made of plastic or silicone. After replacing the damaged natural lens that is causing difficulty in your vision, the surgeon will now close the cut. Hence, you’re done with the whole process. After the surgery, someone must take you home. Learn more common symptoms of cataracts.
People with cataracts in both eyes will also pass through the same procedure. But, the surgeon must work on those eyes one after the other.
Risks behind doing cataract surgery
The risk of undergoing cataract surgery is low if an experienced and competent ophthalmologist does it. But some complications may arise like infection, inflammation, swelling, drooping eyelid, retinal detachment, bleeding, and eye pressure. These risks can occur if the surgery is not done perfectly or if one fails to follow the surgeon’s instructions during and after the surgery.
What one may likely feel after undergoing cataract surgery?
It is normal when you feel sore in your eye after the surgery. There’s also a tendency that one may have some tears. The tears may affect one vision. One may not be able to see clearly under bright light. That is why one needs to follow the surgeon’s instructions after the surgery. The eye doctor can give you some instructions like mandating it to avoid bending, and he might instruct you not to lift heavy objects. Not only that, it is expedient for you to know that you must not put your eyes under pressure after doing cataract surgery. In fact, for the first two weeks after surgery, your surgeon will tell you to use an eye shield while sleeping.
Final words
Dear reader, I hope you’ve found something educative, informative, and instructive. This write-up consists of the necessary information you need to know about cataract surgery. Please feel free to drop your question regarding this topic in the comment box.