How Cataract Surgery Is Done
Although cataracts are certainly not an elective condition, the surgery to have them removed is most often elective. Some people feel they can live with the effects of cataracts and since they do not usually harm the actual eye, they choose to not do anything about them. Perhaps they are fearful of the unknown or medical procedures in general. So, when choosing whether to have Fort Worth cataract eye surgery, it is best to know what exactly the surgery entails in order to make an educated decision.
Cataract surgery in Fort Worth involves the removal of an eye lens infected with cataracts, a condition that causes blurred and cloudy vision. Once the lens is removed, it is replaced with an artificial lens and clearer vision is restored. This procedure should take no more than an hour and there are several ways in which to do it. A method called Phacoemulsification is the most common way cataract surgery is performed. With this method a thin ultrasound is inserted into the eye. The ultrasound vibrations are used to break up and dissolve the lens, and then suction the small fragments of the lens out of the eye before replacing it with the new artificial one. You will be given numbing drops so your eyes feel none of this, and possibly a mild sedation medicine. However, it will be mild enough so that you are awake for the entire surgery.
For more advanced cataracts, a method called Extracapsular cataract surgery is used. The cataracts have caused the lens to be too thick to break up before removal so a larger incision than normal has to be made and the lens is removed in one piece rather than in tiny pieces. Because the incision is larger, more stitches will be necessary, so the recovery time from this method is usually longer. The doctor may also ask patients to wear an eye patch after this type of Fort Worth cataract eye surgery.
Whichever method is used, cataract surgery is done on an outpatient basis usually in an ambulatory surgery center. Your vision will still be cloudy immediately following the procedure, so you will not be able to drive safely and will need a ride home. You will also need to follow your doctor’s strict orders to achieve optimum healing, and this includes using post-op prescription eye drops. However, within weeks you will see significant visual improvement and know your decision to undergo cataract surgery was the right one.
