A cataract is a condition where proteins accumulate in the natural lens of your eyes to make them cloudy. This common eye disorder which exhibits a diverse range of symptoms, tends to interfere with your vision. These include blurry vision, sensitivity to bright light, observing ”halos” around a light, nearsightedness, and double vision in each of your eyes. Fortunately, this eye condition is curable via surgery
Search for cataract surgery near me clinic
Cataract surgery is a simple outpatient operation that ophthalmologists perform on people suffering from severe cataracts. It involves extracting the lens in each of their eyes and replacing them with artificial ones. There are many medical clinics and hospitals throughout the country which perform this surgical procedure.
You just have to browse online to search for clinics conducting cataract surgery near me in the region where you live. In doing so, it is important for you to determine the market reputation of these clinics. For this, you need to go through the online customer reviews on their official websites. Then, you can shortlist the one which suits your requirements and budget.
Preparing for the surgery
You need to fix an appointment to meet one of the clinic’s ophthalmologists. This medical specialist will examine your eyes, enquire about your general health and current medications. He/she will even want to know if you have prostate problems as this impacts the treatment. Then, the medical specialist will proceed to issue you the following instructions:
- Avoid eating and drinking for anything at least 12 hours before the surgery,
- Stop taking medicines that increase the chances of bleeding during the surgery, and
- Arrange a relative or friend to take you home after the operation.
A week prior to the cataract surgery, the ophthalmologist will ask you to appear for a painless ultrasound test. This examination helps medical specialists measure the dimensions of your eyes for select the right intraocular lens implants (IOLs.)
During the operation
During the surgery, the ophthalmologist will administer drops into your eyes to dilute them. Next, the medical specialist will give you a local anesthetic to numb your eyes and sedative. The effect of the sedative will make you feel groggy but awake throughout the surgery. The ophthalmologist will proceed to remove the cloudy lens from the eye capsules and insert the clear artificial implants in their place. In doing so, he/she might resort to:
- Phacoemulsification involves the use of an ultrasound wave probe to disintegrate lens, or
- Extracapsular cataract extraction, which makes an incision on the cornea and extracts the lens.
The surgery takes the ophthalmologist around 30 minutes to one hour to perform. After the operation, your vision will be blurry as you adjust to your surroundings. You experience mild discomfort, sensitivity to light, and an itching sensation. However, these side-effects will slowly subside over time. Moreover, the ophthalmologist will prescribe an eye drop for you to take to heal your eyes and prevent any infection.
Search online for cataract surgery near me clinics with good reviews and credentials. The ophthalmologist performing the operation should have relevant experience, a valid license, and board certifications. Above all, this specialist should have an impressive track record of successfully conducting these surgeries satisfactorily for patients.