Are your cataract symptoms making it difficult to do daily activities and impacting your quality of life? It could be time to consider cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery is a quick and minimally invasive procedure undergone by millions of people every year. It can remove cataracts and improve your vision, letting you reclaim control of your life with clearer sight.
Keep reading to learn more about what happens during cataract surgery.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts often develop as a result of aging, when proteins in the natural lens of the eye start to break down and form clumps that impair your vision. They typically develop slowly and may not impact your vision until the condition progresses further and you experience symptoms such as:
- Blurry vision
- Poor night vision
- Seeing double
- Increased light sensitivity
- Seeing colors as dulled, faded, or yellowed
Your eye doctor at Metro Eye Care can diagnose cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam. They may perform various examinations and tests, including a slit-lamp exam, retinal exam, refraction test, and visual acuity test.
Once you are diagnosed with cataracts, that doesn’t always mean you’ll need cataract surgery immediately. Many patients can reduce their symptoms by using brighter lights for certain activities or wearing visual aids like glasses and contacts.
However, once your cataracts develop to the point where they are preventing you from performing routine activities, you should consider cataract surgery.
What to Expect During Cataract Surgery
On the day of your procedure, you will need someone to drive you and pick you up, as you will not be able to drive afterward until your cataract surgeon clears you. They will begin by administering numbing eye drops to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure and may offer you a mild sedative if you are feeling anxious.
Your cataract surgeon will then create small incisions around your cornea to access the lens capsule. They will break up your natural lens using ultrasound waves in a process called phacoemulsification.
Afterward, they will suction out the pieces of the lens and replace it with an intraocular lens, or IOL. Then, your cataract surgeon will place a shield on your eye for protection.
What is Cataract Surgery Recovery Like?
Once you’ve completed your cataract surgery, your surgeon will give you instructions for at-home care and provide you with prescription eye drops that help reduce inflammation and prevent infection. Full recovery from cataract surgery takes about four to six weeks, but patients often notice visual improvements after only a few days.
You’ll need to follow specific guidelines, such as avoiding getting water in your eye, not rubbing your eye, and wearing UV-protective sunglasses when going outside. At your follow-up appointment the next day, your cataract surgeon will examine your eye and let you know when you can resume activities like driving and playing sports.
What Will My Vision Be Like After Cataract Surgery?
Once your eyes have fully healed, you’ll have vision clear of cataracts. The best part is that cataracts can’t develop on your new IOL, meaning you’ll never have to worry about them again.
Depending on the IOL you choose, you may achieve even better vision than you had before cataract surgery. Metro Eye Care offers many premium IOLs, including toric lens implants, multifocal lens implants, and extended depth of focus lens implants.
These lenses can help reduce your dependence on glasses and contacts and bring you the crystal-clear vision of your dreams. Premium IOLs are especially beneficial to patients who lead active lifestyles.
Imagine how much easier it would be to hike, swim, travel, and play your favorite sports without worrying about glasses and contacts! With a premium IOL, you can enhance your active lifestyle and achieve visual freedom.
Do you want to learn more about cataract surgery? Schedule an appointment at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ, today!
