If you are currently living with cataracts, then you may have reached the point where surgery is the next step for you. Cataract surgery is a safe, quick procedure that has improved the vision of millions of people worldwide. Here are five things you should know about cataract removal surgery:
1. Many people are choosing to have cataract surgery earlier
The number of cataracts surgeries continue to increase every year. This is mostly because patients are choosing to have the surgery at an earlier age than previous generations. Today, many patients don’t want to put their lifestyle on hold as they wait for their cataracts to worsen.
2. Cataract surgery is a quick and safe procedure
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure where most patients stay awake during the surgery. Prior to surgery, your doctor will give you numbing eye drops so you won’t feel any pain.
During the surgery, your doctor will create a small incision in your eye and then use a tool to break up the cataract and remove it. Your doctor will then replace it with an artificial lens. The entire procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes.
3. Your vision may still be blurry immediately following surgery
Don’t be surprised if your vision is still blurry immediately following surgery. Your vision will continue to fluctuate as your eyes begin healing. But most patients do report having improved vision within a day of the surgery.
4. There are many benefits to having cataract surgery
Improved vision is a huge benefit in and of itself but there are other benefits to having cataract surgery. Studies have shown the surgery actually makes patients safer in the long run.
For instance, this study shows a decrease in the number of falls for female patients after having cataract surgery. And this study showed a decline in the number of car crashes for patients who had cataract surgery.
5. There are side-effects to watch out for
No surgery is 100 percent without risk and cataract surgery is no exception to that rule. Post-surgery, patients are at risk for inflammation, a detached retina, or the lens becoming dislocated. Fortunately, these risks are relatively low — they occur in less than four percent of all patients.
Interested in learning more about how cataract surgery could improve the quality of your life? Contact our office to schedule an appointment today!
