Ophthalmology: The Process Of Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a common procedure in ophthalmology. When the outer lens of a person's eye starts to get cloudy, there is often some type of vision loss. The lack of transparency of the lens makes it tough to see through. The surgery removes that outer lens and replaces it with something artificial. A majority of these procedures are successful in restoring clearer site to patients.

Diagnosis:
In ophthalmology, the basic eye exam is the first step in diagnosing any type of problem. At this time the doctor can determine if there is a cataract and the severity of the condition. Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure. A patient must have a significant reduction of vision due to the cataract, a lack of other eye issues that could be affected by the surgery, and a pupil that will correctly dilate. Overall a person needs to be healthy enough to undergo the surgery.

Procedure:
After being given anesthesia, the physician will expose the eyeball and begin working on the cataract surgery. Most people do not need general anesthesia but in cases of children or people that struggle with the anxiety of the surgery, it can be administered. This is another reason to proceed with the cataract surgery on someone that is healthy.

A small incision is made and the pressure of the eye needs to be maintained. This takes precise steps that need to be done with gently and with exact movements. In the field of ophthalmology, a patient puts their vision into the hands of the physician and hopes that when the work is complete, they have better, more accurate vision.

Recovery:
One of the most important parts of a cataract surgery recovery is listening to the doctor's instructions. It is completely normal to struggle with vision right away. Eyesight is often blurry and sometimes distorted immediately following the procedure. This is completely normal as is the redness of the eye area. Over time, these things will continue to improve and patients will begin to notice improved eyesight, often within the same day or the day after.

A follow up appointment will be required. An expert in ophthalmology will want to check over the eye and make sure that things went well and everything is healing correctly. If things do not consistently improve, it is important to contact the doctor right away, as there could be a complication.

Complications:
It is possible for an after-cataract to develop after a cataract surgery. In this case, visual impairment can continue and a patient will continue to struggle with clear eyesight. It is possible to have the situation corrected however it will require another appointment. If the issue is very bad, another type of surgery may be required.