Cataracts are a normal occurrence in an aging eye: your transparent eye lens begins to cloud over with the gradual build-up of naturally-occurring proteins in the eye. Instead of allowing light to enter properly, the cloudy lens creates a foggy appearance to everything you see.
This process does not happen overnight. It is typically a slow development that makes it increasingly difficult to see things clearly and perform daily tasks. It is quite common to have cataracts but still be able to live your life without them affecting your day-to-day life. As they grow in size and opacity, they can make it more difficult to drive, read, work, participate in sports and do hobbies. It will be up to you to decide when you want to improve your vision – and your quality of life – through cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery is an amazingly quick outpatient procedure that can erase years of poor vision. The entire surgical process takes 15 minutes to perform.
When you decide to move forward with the procedure, it’s normal to feel a little nervous. Our staff understands this and will do everything we can to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible. The main goal is that you feel 100% confident in our surgical abilities.
We will ask that you arrive at the surgery facility at the given time so they may obtain any necessary paperwork, insurance information and update your medical history.
The replacement lens you choose will be permanent and will feel natural in your eye.
After your surgery is complete you will be monitored in the post op area where a nurse will review your after surgery instructions with you and your family member. You will be given a time to follow up with your surgeon in the days following your surgery. Once you are comfortable you can go home. You will need someone to drive you home after surgery so you can rest for the remainder of the day. You should wear an eye shield while sleeping as your eye heals to avoid hitting or rubbing your eye and follow any post op instructions provided to you on when to administer eye drops.
Your vision may be a bit blurry at first and your eye may be itchy or irritated – this is normal. The prescription eye drops will help minimize discomfort. If you experience any pain or worrisome symptoms, contact our office immediately.
Only one eye is treated at a time. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your second eye can be treated after the first has healed (minimum of 2 weeks later).
Remember: not all cataracts must be removed right away. The best way to know if your cataracts are developed enough to warrant surgery is by scheduling a cataract evaluation. Our informative exam will shed new light on your eye health and will help you learn more about your options for vision improvement.
