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.
The surgical treatment of cataracts involves removing the damaged lens and putting an artificial one its place. This is generally indicated when the patient's daily visual ability is being hindered and it is impairing his or her activities such as driving and reading. It is not necessary to hurry into this procedure, the patient can take his or her time to decide if it's the right decision.
Presence of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration may also indicate the need for cataract removal. If the patient attends regular eye exams, it will become apparent if surgical correction is suitable. In cases where cataracts need to be removed from both eyes, they will be done separately, with a month or two in between.
The most commonly used method of performing this operation is "phacoemulsification" in which an incision is made along the side of the cornea to facilitate removal of the clouded lens. An artificial lens is inserted in place of the natural one, and it is made from clear plastic. Typically this procedure is effective in 90% of patients.
A week or two before the patient is scheduled for surgery, certain tests will need to be done to measure the curve of the patient's cornea and the shape and size of the eye, so the best artificial lens can be chosen. Patients will normally be advised not to eat or drink anything in the twelve hours before the operation.
Done as an out-patient operation in a hospital or eye clinic, the patient is usually given a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in the eye although sometimes a general anesthetic will be administered but this is not necessary in most cases. Little pain is involved and the whole procedure generally takes an hour at most.
Upon completion of the surgery, the eye is covered with a patch and the patient can rest for awhile. If the doctor is convinced that there are no complications, the patient can go home, but he or she will need someone there to drive. The eye will likely be tender and a bit itchy, possibly with some discharge for one or two days, but this should subside after this time.
Eyedrops will need to be administered for several days to promote healing and prevent infection and the eye should be protected with glasses or an eye patch. Light, moderate activity may be resumed and in eight weeks following cataract surgery Orange County patients should expect a full recovery. The healing process will be monitored by routine check-ups throughout this period.
The surgical treatment of cataracts involves removing the damaged lens and putting an artificial one its place. This is generally indicated when the patient's daily visual ability is being hindered and it is impairing his or her activities such as driving and reading. It is not necessary to hurry into this procedure, the patient can take his or her time to decide if it's the right decision.
Presence of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration may also indicate the need for cataract removal. If the patient attends regular eye exams, it will become apparent if surgical correction is suitable. In cases where cataracts need to be removed from both eyes, they will be done separately, with a month or two in between.
The most commonly used method of performing this operation is "phacoemulsification" in which an incision is made along the side of the cornea to facilitate removal of the clouded lens. An artificial lens is inserted in place of the natural one, and it is made from clear plastic. Typically this procedure is effective in 90% of patients.
A week or two before the patient is scheduled for surgery, certain tests will need to be done to measure the curve of the patient's cornea and the shape and size of the eye, so the best artificial lens can be chosen. Patients will normally be advised not to eat or drink anything in the twelve hours before the operation.
Done as an out-patient operation in a hospital or eye clinic, the patient is usually given a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in the eye although sometimes a general anesthetic will be administered but this is not necessary in most cases. Little pain is involved and the whole procedure generally takes an hour at most.
Upon completion of the surgery, the eye is covered with a patch and the patient can rest for awhile. If the doctor is convinced that there are no complications, the patient can go home, but he or she will need someone there to drive. The eye will likely be tender and a bit itchy, possibly with some discharge for one or two days, but this should subside after this time.
Eyedrops will need to be administered for several days to promote healing and prevent infection and the eye should be protected with glasses or an eye patch. Light, moderate activity may be resumed and in eight weeks following cataract surgery Orange County patients should expect a full recovery. The healing process will be monitored by routine check-ups throughout this period.
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