Cataracts are a disease of the eye in which the vision becomes blurred due to the clouding of the lens. This problem may occur in both eyes or in one alone, and is usually a result of aging, but may be caused by other factors as well. When the cataract is first detected, simply adjusting the eyeglasses prescription may bring some improvement, but eventually an operation will be necessary for more permanent results. When thinking about cataract surgery Orange County patients need to speak with their eye doctor and get all the facts about it first.
Surgical correction of cataracts consists of replacing the cloudy, damaged lens with an artificial one. If the patient is having difficulty carrying out basic activities involving the use of the eyes such as driving or reading, usually surgery will be advised. Fortunately, patients can take their time to decide whether to go ahead with the procedure since waiting itself does not pose a risk to the eye.
In some instances removal will be recommended because it may possibly prevent the proper treatment of another eye disorder such as diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Regular eye exams should reveal whether or not surgery is the best course of action. When both eyes need to be operated on, this is usually done a month or two apart.
There are different methods of performing this operation but the most common one used is referred to as "phacoemulsification". An incision is made in the side of the cornea and the damaged lens is removed by suction. The artificial lens replacing the natural one is manufactured out of clear plastic. In about 90% of patients this procedure is a success.
One or two weeks before the operation is scheduled, preparations will be made. The patient will need to undergo tests to evaluate the curve of the cornea and the exact shape and size of the eye, this information is used to select the proper type of artificial lens. Food and drink will not normally not be permitted in the twelve hours before the procedure.
The patient will be treated on an out-patient basis at an eye clinic or hospital. A local anesthetic to numb the feeling in the eye is usually all that's needed but in some instances a general anesthesia may be given. The whole procedure takes about an hour and very little pain is involved.
Immediately after the surgery, the treated eye will have a patch placed on it and the patient will be told to rest. Once it has been determined that there are no complications, patients can go home as long as they have someone to drive them. Some itchiness, slight discomfort, or liquid discharge may be present for one or two days at most.
Instilling eyedrops for a few days as this helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Glasses or an eye shield will also need to be worn and it should be acceptable to resume a moderate level of activity. Regular check-ups will monitor the healing process and in most cases, eight weeks after cataract surgery Orange County patients can look forward to a full recovery.
Surgical correction of cataracts consists of replacing the cloudy, damaged lens with an artificial one. If the patient is having difficulty carrying out basic activities involving the use of the eyes such as driving or reading, usually surgery will be advised. Fortunately, patients can take their time to decide whether to go ahead with the procedure since waiting itself does not pose a risk to the eye.
In some instances removal will be recommended because it may possibly prevent the proper treatment of another eye disorder such as diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Regular eye exams should reveal whether or not surgery is the best course of action. When both eyes need to be operated on, this is usually done a month or two apart.
There are different methods of performing this operation but the most common one used is referred to as "phacoemulsification". An incision is made in the side of the cornea and the damaged lens is removed by suction. The artificial lens replacing the natural one is manufactured out of clear plastic. In about 90% of patients this procedure is a success.
One or two weeks before the operation is scheduled, preparations will be made. The patient will need to undergo tests to evaluate the curve of the cornea and the exact shape and size of the eye, this information is used to select the proper type of artificial lens. Food and drink will not normally not be permitted in the twelve hours before the procedure.
The patient will be treated on an out-patient basis at an eye clinic or hospital. A local anesthetic to numb the feeling in the eye is usually all that's needed but in some instances a general anesthesia may be given. The whole procedure takes about an hour and very little pain is involved.
Immediately after the surgery, the treated eye will have a patch placed on it and the patient will be told to rest. Once it has been determined that there are no complications, patients can go home as long as they have someone to drive them. Some itchiness, slight discomfort, or liquid discharge may be present for one or two days at most.
Instilling eyedrops for a few days as this helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Glasses or an eye shield will also need to be worn and it should be acceptable to resume a moderate level of activity. Regular check-ups will monitor the healing process and in most cases, eight weeks after cataract surgery Orange County patients can look forward to a full recovery.
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