Cataract Surgery FAQs, Frequently asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions on cataract and its surgery asked to Dr Khalil and his answers to them
What is cataract and its surgery?
A cataract is a cloudiness of the lens of the eye, which is between the front and back areas of the eye. Cataract surgery is an operation which successfully restores vision. During the surgery, Dr Khalil removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces the lens with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery will significantly improve your vision. It is a simple, relatively painless procedure to regain vision. Every surgery involves some risk. You should choose a surgeon with experience, which will reduce the risk of something going wrong
What are the Causes of Eye Cataracts?
This is the most frustrating part about cataracts; there’s no real definite cause. In most cases, cataracts are simply a part of the aging process. As you get older, your chances of developing cataracts increases. However, while there are no exact causes, there are several risk factors:
- A family history of cataracts
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes.
- Long-term exposure to UV rays and excessive sunlight
- Eye injuries or diseases
- Unhealthy eating habits and smoking
How do eye cataracts affect vision?
It reduces the light passing through the lens, and reduces your eyesight. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car — especially at night — or see the expression on a friend’s face. When cataract develops to an extent which hinders your normal activity, then cataract surgery will be needed to restore your eyesight to excellent and clear quality.
How is a cataract diagnosed?
The patient is usually the first person to notice a cataract, because the first sign is often difficulty with vision. For example, street signs are difficult to read or require close inspection to decipher. sometimes glare at night and difficulty with night vision is a prominent complaint.
Some cataract patients notice increased daytime glare similar to a dirty windshield when driving west in the afternoon sunshine.To an ophthalmologist, the most common age-related type of cataract looks a lot like a dirty brown marble inside the eye. After cataract surgery on one eye, it is not surprising that many patients remark about the bright vivid colors in the treated eye and the dim, brown, hazy vision in the other eye that still contains a cataract. Dr Khalil using a slit lamp microscope can evaluate cataracts during the office examination.
When is time for cataract surgery?
You and Dr Khalil must work together. If cataract progress is rapid, don’t wait for cataract surgery. But, if your vision is still quite good, you may not need cataract surgery immediately. You need to continue to visit Dr Khalil regularly. You should know that some cataracts never really reach the stage where they should be removed.
The best time for surgery is individual. Think about how cataract affect on your life. If cataract don’t bother you a lot, you can wait some time for surgery. Think about surgery when your cataracts have progressed enough to seriously impair your vision. If cataract have significant effect on your daily activates, you should have cataract surgery soon as possible.
In some cases a cataract should be removed even if it doesn’t cause major problems with vision but interfere with diabetic retinopathy or retinal detachment or some other eye problems. If you have cataract in both eyes, you will have two separate surgeries.
What can I expect if I decide to have cataract surgery?
To determine if your cataract should be removed, Dr Khalil will perform a thorough eye examination. Before surgery, your eye will be measured to determine the proper power of the intraocular lens that will be placed in your eye. Ask Dr Khalil if you should continue taking your usual medications before surgery. You should make arrangements to have someone drive you home after surgery.
Are there risks for Cataract Surgery?
As you know, all surgeries carry some risk. With respect to -7 surgery, there is always a possibility that a complication might arise during or after surgery. We always explain these risks before you decide to have surgery.
How about anesthesia for cataract surgery?
Topical or local anesthesia is the norm in most of the cases.
Can the cataract come back?
No. But later, some patients notice their vision is not as good as it was right after surgery. This is usually due to what we call a “secondary membrane.” The secondary membrane is best understood as a wrinkle or opacification of the capsule (envelope). The capsule (envelope) is essential for maintaining the position of the intraocular lens implant. This capsule is carefully cleaned and polished during cataract surgery, but in about 25% of patients it opacifies later. This can happen months or even years after successful surgery. A secondary membrane can be corrected quickly and easily using a Yag laser by Dr Khalil. The laser procedure takes just a few minutes. It is painless and does not require anesthesia.
How long will it take to recover from cataract surgery?
You may see clearly on the very first day after cataract surgery. Most patients agree that vision returns quickly, although the exact timing varies from individual to individual. For some patients, experiencing blurred vision for about a week is normal. Most patients resume routine activity within 24 hours.
How often do you check my eyes after cataract surgery?
We ask that you return to the clinic the day following surgery so that Dr Khalil can check your eye; again two weeks later; and your final appointment is two months after the cataract surgery. These are the normal postoperative visits, but remember you can have as many appointments as you need. At your final appointment after surgery, you will be given a prescription for eyeglasses if needed. From this point on, it’s a good idea to have your eyes checked every one year or so. Approximately 70% of patients use eyeglasses only for reading and close work.
Will I need to use glasses again after Cataract Surgerry?
The goal of the surgery is to reduce the person’s dependance on lenses of any kind. However, many people still benefit from reading glasses, and many people will wear a thin pair of glasses for night driving.
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