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having the patient fitted for a contact lens.
Sometimes an IOL may be implanted during a later operation.
Glasses also may be an option in such rare cases. However,
these glasses are thick and heavy, and they distort peripheral
(or side) vision. You should discuss these issues with your
ophthalmologist to determine if wearing cataract glasses or
cataract contact lenses may be an option for you.
Because the operation can be performed in several
ways, you should discuss with your surgeon which option is
best for you. The patient usually receives a local injection
of anesthetic solution around or behind the eye. In the most
common method of cataract removal, the surgeon looks through
an operating microscope and makes a small incision with a
scalpel in or near the cornea. An opening is then made through
the capsule of the lens so that the cloudy contents can be
broken up with ultrasound waves and then removed. Rarely —
less than 1 percent of the time — the surgeon may choose
to remove the entire lens. Until recently, the most common
surgical treatment for cataracts was to remove the center
(nucleus) of the lens through a larger incision. Currently,
there is a trend toward removing cataracts with a small incision
and ultrasound.
Nearly all cataract operations are scheduled
on an outpatient basis. When patients have cataracts in both
eyes there is usually an interval of several months between
operations. However, an operation on the second eye is not
always necessary, and the need for it must be determined on
an individual basis.
Most sutures (stitches) that are sewn during
the procedure do not have to be removed. Some newer types
of incisions are not sutured at all; therefore, these procedures
are often referred to as "stitchless cataract surgery."
Recovery
You may experience some swelling of the eye
area immediately after the operation. If you do, it can be
treated with eyedrops that contain anti-inflammatory medication.
Fortunately, infection is rare after a cataract operation.
Nonetheless, an antibiotic ointment or eyedrops may be applied
directly to the eye for several weeks to ensure that no infection
develops.
You should be up and walking soon after the
operation. However, you may find that exposure to bright light
is uncomfortable. Sunglasses and eyedrops can relieve most
discomfort you may experience. Your level of activity will
depend on your surgeon's instructions. Usually, you can resume
normal, non-strenuous activity on the first day after the
operation. You also may be asked to wear eyeglasses, both
indoors and outdoors, for seven-to-10 days following the operation.
In addition, to prevent scratching or irritating the healing
wound, you may be asked to sleep with a protective eye shield
until the healing process is well under way.
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