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EXPERT OPHTHALMOLOGY WITNESS
What is Cataract Eye Surgery
As people age, most experience cataracts that cause a cloudy area in the eye's lens. As a result, it affects vision because the eye lens is obscured. In this case, the patient needs to undergo cataract eye surgery.
The term suggests that it enables the treatment of cataracts. Specifically, cataract eye surgery aims to restore cataract-related vision loss by replacing the clouded eye lens with a clear artificial lens. The operation normally takes no more than 15 minutes, and you won't feel any pain. There is normally no need for an overnight hospital stay because it is an outpatient operation.
Meanwhile, there is still an issue related to eye problems after the surgery. Following cataract surgery, some patients may experience secondary cataracts, also known as posterior capsule opacification. Technically, secondary cataracts are not cataracts, but they can blur vision because they are brought on by cloudiness on the lens's exterior rather than the interior. After cataract surgery, secondary cataracts can develop, but they are simple to repair with a laser in the doctor's office. Secondary cataracts can develop weeks, months, or even years later. If eye surgery has gone wrong, the patient may hire a lawyer to see if eye surgery malpractice has occurred. In eye surgery medical malpractice and personal injury cases, an ophthalmologist expert witness is frequently hired by a lawyer to review that case and to present expert testimony if it reaches court.
What is Cataract Eye Surgery
In terms of the cataract eye surgery procedure, the process is performed by an ophthalmologist. As mentioned, the surgery replaces the original eye lens with an artificial one. Basically, the lens bends or refracts light rays that enter the eye to improve your vision. Thus, an eye lens should be clean, but a cataract causes it to become clouded. As a result, one’s vision becomes similar to that of a cloudy or dusty car windshield. Things could appear hazy, fuzzy, or less vibrant.
This artificial lens that will replace the damaged eye lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL). IOL functions similarly to the eye's natural lens. It focuses light that enters the eye in the cornea and pupil on the way to the retina. Most IOLs are around one-third the size of a dime and constructed of a flexible, foldable polymer. The intraocular lens will have the necessary prescription to provide you with the clearest vision.
During cataract surgery, three primary IOL types can be implanted:
- Monofocal lenses. It is the most common IOL. After surgery, the patient might still need to wear spectacles or reading glasses. The ophthalmologist will recommend prescription glasses if you require them approximately a month after surgery. By adjusting the strength of one of your monofocal IOLs, you can treat presbyopia by developing a condition known as monovision.
- Accommodating lenses and multifocal lenses. These lenses can correct your reading vision without impairing your ability to see far away. Following cataract surgery, these IOLs offer a wider field of vision than traditional monofocal lenses.
- Extracapsular surgery. This procedure will remove the hazy lens' core whole rather than using ultrasound to break it up. Then, they will suction out the remaining material. Extracapsular surgery necessitates a longer incision and preoperative antibacterial eye drops. In severe cases, this kind of cataract surgical operation is often reserved.
Why Is It Done?
No one would find it enjoyable with a blur vision, or worse, having no vision at all. If so, one’s normal activities will become hard to carry out. Thus, it is highly recommended to undergo cataract eye surgery.
Meanwhile, as you get older, when cataracts are most prone to form or deteriorate, the likelihood that you'll need cataract surgery increases. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that cataracts can affect:
- 1 in 20 people in the 50–54 age group
- Approximately 50 percent of people aged 75 to 79
- more than two-thirds of those over 80
Who Needs Cataract Eye Surgery?
If you have vision loss that makes it difficult for you to read, drive, or watch TV, your doctor will likely advise cataract surgery. In some cases, your doctor may advise cataract surgery even if your cataracts aren't the primary reason for your vision issues.
For instance, cataracts may need to be removed for your doctor to see the rear of your eye. Your doctor will need to examine your eye if you have another eye problem, such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), to help you treat it. You don't need to schedule surgery immediately to remove a cataract because it's not urgent.
What Are The Types Of Cataract Eye Surgery?
If one is diagnosed with cataracts, the possible treatment for this eye problem is undergoing eye cataract surgery. Being more familiar with cataract surgery involves knowing its types: small-incision cataract surgery and extracapsular surgery.
The most popular procedure for removing cataracts is small-incision cataract surgery. The eye surgeon creates a tiny incision just adjacent to the outer corner of the eye. A tiny probe releases ultrasound waves to break up the lens’s hard center. Another probe is then used to suction through the same aperture and remove the remaining cataract material.
On the other hand, extracapsular surgery involves making a longer incision on the top of the eye to remove the lens’s dense core. Suction is subsequently used to remove the remaining cataract material through the wide aperture.
At the end of the procedure, an intraocular lens (IOL), which is put through the prior opening, replaces the removed lens. It eventually fuses with the eye. A person with an IOL typically has improved vision since light can reach the retina. The patient cannot feel or see the inserted lens.
Two Different Options For Cataract Surgery
Additionally, a patient may consider two options for cataract surgery: the phacoemulsification procedure and the Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (ReLACS). Let’s dig deeper into their basic information.
- Phacoemulsification, or phaco, is the most typical method of cataract surgery. It uses high-frequency ultrasonic waves to separate the clouded lens. This procedure is now carried out with far smaller incisions than in the past, resulting in quicker recovery and a significantly lower risk of problems.
- Refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery (ReLACS) is a more contemporary approach, employing laser technology to remove cataracts. Since the laser utilizes less energy than ultrasound, the danger of problems can be further decreased. Laser surgery can occasionally enhance visual results.
What To Expect
Cataract surgery is an outpatient operation so you can leave the hospital immediately. Generally, here are the common things to expect before, during, and after the cataract surgery.
Before the procedure
Before your eye operation, take note of the following that might be helpful in the overall process of the operation.
Before your eye operation, take note of the following that might be helpful in the overall process of the operation.
- Your surgeon will measure your eye for the correct focusing power for your IOL. You will also be questioned about any medications you are taking. Some of these medications may not be prescribed to you before surgery.
- Before surgery, eye drops may be recommended for you to begin with. During and after surgery, these medications assist in reducing swelling and preventing infection.
During the procedure
During cataract eye surgery, you will generally experience the following:
During cataract eye surgery, you will generally experience the following:
- Numbing medication. The surgeon numbs your eye with drops, an injection, and a relaxing medicine. You can observe light and motion during the procedure because you are awake. You cannot watch the ophthalmologist work on your eye; the operation will not be painful.
- Removal of Cataract. To examine your eye, your doctor utilizes a specialized microscope. To access the lens, they make very small incisions. The lens is then disassembled and removed using ultrasonic waves. They then set the replacement lens in place.
- Recovery. This is the essential point of the surgery. Specifically, during recovery, you will not need stitches as the tiny incisions close on their own.
After the procedure
You'll notice that colors are brighter immediately away after surgery because the clouded lens has been removed. However, the first few days may cause hazy vision and a small sensitivity to light in your eye. Common side effects include dryness, sporadic itching, burning, and red eyes. The majority of these effects subside in a few days.
You'll notice that colors are brighter immediately away after surgery because the clouded lens has been removed. However, the first few days may cause hazy vision and a small sensitivity to light in your eye. Common side effects include dryness, sporadic itching, burning, and red eyes. The majority of these effects subside in a few days.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Cataract Eye Surgery?
After surgery, most patients typically recover to light-duty work two or three days later. However,
it often takes one to two months to fully recover from cataract surgery. This covers the period
required for the eye to get used to the new lens and improve your vision.
Will my vision be normal after cataract surgery?
Approximately 90% of people who have cataract surgery get improved vision after. However,
vision may initially be fuzzy while the eye is healing. After cataract surgery, some people have
noticed that colors seem brighter. You might require a prescription for new glasses or contact
lenses to see clearly after your eye fully recovers.
What Are the Risks And Complications of Cataract Eye Surgery?
According to estimates, there is a 1 in 50 chance that cataract surgery will result in serious complications. The majority of these serious complications are curable with medication or additional surgery. Thus, cataract surgery has potential issues or complications like any surgical procedure. Here are some of those risks:
- Eye bleeding
- ongoing enlargement of the interior or front of the eye.
- Inflammation of the retina (the nerve layer at the back of your eye).
- Retinal detachment (when the retina lifts from the back of the eye).
- Damage to your eye's other parts.
- Pain that is unresponsive to over-the-counter medication.
- Distorted vision
- observing glare, shadows, and haloes.
- loss of vision
- The IOL implant could shift out of place and become dislocated.
What Are The Benefits Of Cataract Eye Surgery?
Some things are expected when a patient undergoes cataract surgery, as this surgery provides benefits concerning vision. Here are some:
- see details clearly
- Observe bright lights to reduce glare
- able to distinguish between colors
Meanwhile, you might still have limited vision if you have another eye disorder like diabetes or glaucoma, even after a successful operation.
When To Consider Cataract Surgery?
There is an immediate need to undergo cataract eye surgery if your vision is drastically affected. Furthermore, cataracts' development will determine whether surgery is required. You should talk to your eye doctor about having cataract surgery if you have problems with daily tasks like reading, filling out checks or paperwork, or driving because of your cataracts.
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider After Cataract Eye Surgery?
After the surgery, you must schedule a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider. It will help to ensure the operation's success and assess if any complications are happening. Thus, you need to seek immediate medical assistance if you constantly experience the following after surgery:
- Persistent pain or redness despite using painkillers.
- Stickiness around eyes.
- Vision loss
- flashes of light, numerous tiny dark spots, or wavy lines that appear to float across the field of vision
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