Is cataract treatment painful? Things to expect before a cataract surgery

A cataract is when the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, resulting in blurred vision. It is one of the most common eye ailment that occurs in people as they grow older. Cataract surgery is a fairly simple and uncomplicated procedure that can be completed in minutes. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, which doesn’t require you to stay overnight in the eye clinic. Current cataract treatments involve using femtosecond lasers and eye drops to clear the cataracts. These procedures are usually comfortable and most people can resume light daily routines soon after the surgery.

Preparing for the surgery

Before the surgery, your ophthalmologist will perform a complete eye checkup to ascertain the overall health of your eyes. They use the data to evaluate the need for the surgery and the risk factors associated with it. Normally, a refraction test will also be performed to determine the near- or farsightedness you may have before the surgery. Further, measurements like the curvature of your cornea will be taken before laser surgery. Your eye specialist in charge of your cataract surgery will also discuss the medications you must take, including non-prescription formulas and supplements. If you are already on medications, it’s suitable to discuss them with your ophthalmologist, as some of them may cause complications in your surgery or interfere with the healing.

The procedure

The femtosecond laser procedure involves the following steps:

• Create corneal incisions to access the lens
• Remove the outer capsule of the lens
• Cataract fragmentation
• Place Intraocular lens The procedure typically lasts 15 minutes with an additional 90 minutes of preparation time. Vision after surgery is typically in the range of 20/20 to 20/40, though results vary. You can easily return to your day-to-day activities after the procedure, as the procedure is designed for a short recovery.

Recovery after Cataract surgery

You must not strain your eyes too much as part of the healing. You must ask someone to drive you home right after the surgery, and you need your doctor’s consent to restart safe driving. In the initial days after the surgery, you will have to use prescribed medicated eye drops, sometimes antibiotic ones, to speed up the healing without infection. You must also wear a protective eye shield while sleeping for the first week after the surgery. Here are a few other dos and don’ts for the first week of recovery to speed up the healing process:

• Avoid lifting weights
• Avoid exercises which might strain your eyes
• Avoid swimming, as water that enters your eyes can cause an infection
• Take care while bathing; Close your eyes to avoid any water from getting in
• Refrain from any activities that expose you to dust or dirt Cataract surgery is intended to improve your vision; recovery time varies from person to person. Consult your ophthalmologist today.