In the simplest words, a cataract refers to a clouding that covers the naturals lens inside the eye resulting in the loss of vision that cannot be corrected with the simple glasses or contact lenses. To solve this problem, a cataract surgery has to be carried out. The positive thing is that once the operation has been conducted your full vision is restored. Cataracts are associated with age, and it is common among people aged 50 years and above. In a typical cataract surgery, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens to give back full vision to the victim.
A comprehensive assessment of the eye has to be conducted by a qualified specialist eye doctor before carrying out a cataract surgery. The specialist does a full evaluation of your eyes by checking for any other eye conditions that may be affecting your vision. A single member of the eye medical team takes accurate measurements of your eyes in a bid to determine the actual strength of the artificial lens that has been identified to replace the natural lens of your eyes.
It is highly recommendable that you raise any queries regarding the whole cataract procedure at this point. Take a suitable amount of time and discuss the entire process in depth with the specialist. Inform the doctor all the medications you are on because some of the over-the-counter medications may result in complications during the surgery. Two separate operations will be conducted if you have cataracts that affect the vision of both eyes. The operations are usually performed six to twelve weeks apart. The reason behind this time frame is that we are giving the first eye that has been operated on enough time to heal and return your full vision before conducting the second operation. The surgeon has time to assess the situation and recommend the most suitable glasses for the first eye.
Cataract Procedure
The cataract procedure is a clear-cut process and takes between 30 to 45 minutes. This means that you are allowed to go home on the same day. There is no need to stay at the health facility because there are no risky procedures performed. The actual surgery takes place under local aesthetic conditions. You are not made unconscious during the operation. Phacoemulsification is the most commonly used surgical technique in cataracts. Just before the operation starts, a nurse drops some substance in your eyes whose primary function is to widen the pupil and prepare it for the surgery process. As mentioned above, you are given a local aesthetic which is usually applied as eye drops or administered as an injection into the layer of tissues around the eye.
The surgeon then makes a tiny cut in the transparent layer of tissue at the front of your eye referred to as the cornea. What follows is the insertion of a small probe which emits ultrasound waves deep into the eye through the cornea. The purpose of the ultrasound is to break the affected areas into pieces which are then liquefied and sucked out of the eye. A second probe is inserted with the aim of sucking out any remaining soft parts of the outer lens.
In most cases, the replacement lens is curled up in a perfect injector and administered as an injection through the cut in the cornea. Once it is in place, it undergoes self-unfolding and adopts the natural shape and position of the old lens. This will leave you the same way you looked before the cataract surgery was conducted.
