Cataract is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is a condition that may be seen at birth or in the elderly. When it appears in newborns, it is usually the result of chemical or physical injury during pregnancy. In the elderly, on the other hand, it is a normal change of aging. Surgery is performed to remove the cataract and restore vision. There are some things on cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to know as they plan to have the procedure.
The condition varies in severity from one person to another. The usual history is that patients will notice a cloudiness in their vision that starts gradually and progresses slowly. Visual impairment may affect one or both eyes. Surgical intervention is needed to remove the opacity so as to allow light to reach the retina. The affected lens may be returned back or replaced in its entirety.
The more widely practiced option is replacement using artificial lenses. The main advantage of artificial lenses is that they provide clearer vision compared to the already damaged natural ones. The technique that is employed to put them in position is known as phacoemulsification. In this technique, a surgical incision is first made on the lens which allows it to be opened. The hardened center is accessed, liquefied and suctioned.
It is important that one undergoes proper preparation before undergoing the surgery. For instance, the surgeon needs to conduct an ophthalmic examination of your eye to rule out alternative diagnoses. Glaucoma is one of the conditions whose symptoms closely resemble those of cataract. In the event that this condition exists alongside cataract, it must be treated first before one undergoes surgery.
Since this operation is considered a minor surgery, it is usually performed in an outpatient clinic as a day case. Except in very rare circumstances, general anesthesia is usually not needed. What this means is that you will be awake during the whole exercise. Eye droplets containing a local anesthetic agent are usually enough to numb the eye and reduce discomfort. On average, an operation lasts between thirty minutes and one hour.
The use of laser in this type of surgery has greatly improved the outcomes. Apart from reduced complications, the technique has also significantly reduced the time needed for the patients to fully recover from the operation. Laser is used in two main ways. The first is in creation of surgical incisions on the cornea and the lens so as to access the hardened center. The second use is in the liquefaction process.
Improvements are almost immediate with most patients reporting a huge difference within a few days. Some of the benefits include improvements in visual acuity, better color perception and the ability to look directly at bright objects. Maximal benefits will, however, require a couple of weeks to be realized. When a new artificial lens is fixed, one will also need to have glasses so that they can have both near and far vision.
As is the case with many surgical operations, complications may be encountered in the course of this operation. Bleeding and infections are the most probable but are fairly easy to manage. The most serious long term complication is a condition referred to as posterior capsule opacification (or PCO). It occurs when the cloudy opacity reappears within the lens. Surgery is needed to correct the problem.
The condition varies in severity from one person to another. The usual history is that patients will notice a cloudiness in their vision that starts gradually and progresses slowly. Visual impairment may affect one or both eyes. Surgical intervention is needed to remove the opacity so as to allow light to reach the retina. The affected lens may be returned back or replaced in its entirety.
The more widely practiced option is replacement using artificial lenses. The main advantage of artificial lenses is that they provide clearer vision compared to the already damaged natural ones. The technique that is employed to put them in position is known as phacoemulsification. In this technique, a surgical incision is first made on the lens which allows it to be opened. The hardened center is accessed, liquefied and suctioned.
It is important that one undergoes proper preparation before undergoing the surgery. For instance, the surgeon needs to conduct an ophthalmic examination of your eye to rule out alternative diagnoses. Glaucoma is one of the conditions whose symptoms closely resemble those of cataract. In the event that this condition exists alongside cataract, it must be treated first before one undergoes surgery.
Since this operation is considered a minor surgery, it is usually performed in an outpatient clinic as a day case. Except in very rare circumstances, general anesthesia is usually not needed. What this means is that you will be awake during the whole exercise. Eye droplets containing a local anesthetic agent are usually enough to numb the eye and reduce discomfort. On average, an operation lasts between thirty minutes and one hour.
The use of laser in this type of surgery has greatly improved the outcomes. Apart from reduced complications, the technique has also significantly reduced the time needed for the patients to fully recover from the operation. Laser is used in two main ways. The first is in creation of surgical incisions on the cornea and the lens so as to access the hardened center. The second use is in the liquefaction process.
Improvements are almost immediate with most patients reporting a huge difference within a few days. Some of the benefits include improvements in visual acuity, better color perception and the ability to look directly at bright objects. Maximal benefits will, however, require a couple of weeks to be realized. When a new artificial lens is fixed, one will also need to have glasses so that they can have both near and far vision.
As is the case with many surgical operations, complications may be encountered in the course of this operation. Bleeding and infections are the most probable but are fairly easy to manage. The most serious long term complication is a condition referred to as posterior capsule opacification (or PCO). It occurs when the cloudy opacity reappears within the lens. Surgery is needed to correct the problem.
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