How to Deal with Cataracts

Cataracts remains the leading cause of blindness in the United States. When a person has a cataract, or cataracts, it simply means that there is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. In most cases, this is an age related illness and therefore, mostly suffered by the elderly; however, it may also occur due to a birth defect; as a result of trauma to the eye; or following certain eye infections.

In the past, this problem was dealt with late in the disease and with less-advanced methods. Today, success is high with surgery on the eye that generally does not require stitches and is conducted via local anesthetic so that the patient is awake but feels no pain during the treatment. Patients who have undergone this procedure have confirmed and affirmed that it is painless and doctors are confident that it is safe and simple and boasts a 95 percent success rate.

Important to note however, is that not all people qualify for the surgery and so, those eligible first have to undergo thorough eye exams by an ophthalmologist to determine whether there are any other eye problems which could complicate surgery, OR if the patient is eligible for the treatment at all.

There are three procedural options available for laser surgery: the first uses a suction device to extract the opaque portion of the eye; the second uses a freezing probe to remove the entire lens; and the third uses a high speed vibrator to break up the cataract, which is then sucked up through a hollow needle. In all cases, the surgeon removes the lens with the cataract and replaces it with a clear plastic lens which is permanently placed in the eye and, over time, will restore the patient’s sight. Most patients are home within hours of their operation but must avoid carrying anything heavy, rubbing their eyes, taking aspirin or bending over for at least two weeks in order to give their eyes a chance to heal without any extra pressure.

On the day of the surgery, your eye will be covered with a shield for protection and this is worn until your first follow up appointment, usually within 24 hours of the operation. Generally, patients are given antibiotic drops to use and may notice a watery eye effect more than usual during the recovery period.

Following the surgery, patients are encouraged to go for regular follow-up exams and tests in order to avoid further problems and to check that the eye has not rejected the plastic lens.

Many patients will notice a difference in their eyesight almost immediately but others wait around two months or even a little longer, depending on their general eye condition, to really feel and “see” the improvement. In most cases, your eyeglasses prescription will change because of the plastic lens, which is better for long-distance vision. Some will require normal single vision lenses in place of multifocal glasses, while others will require the opposite.

Cataracts affect both those that wear glasses and those with perfect 20/20 vision alike as it is not degeneration but rather a blocking of the eye lens. It’s also important to understand that although cataracts will affect your vision, there is no rush to have them removed because even though they will get worse, they don’t actually damage the eye at all.

In short, cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgeries around - however, as with everything, there are some risks involved so be sure to speak to your eye care practitioner openly about all your fears and all the possible side effects before making your decision.

Hillary Glaser is the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for GlassesUSA.com - the easiest way to buy glasses online. She over sees day-to-day operations for all marketing and promotions of eyeglasses for the company.