Before Undergoing Cataract Surgery San Antonio Patients Should Know What To Expect

By Coleen Torres


A cataract is a disorder of the eye characterized by the clouding of the normally clear lens. This usually occurs as a result of aging, but it can sometimes be caused by an injury as well, if left untreated, the patient will eventually be unable to see with the affected eye. Surgery is used to correct this condition effectively. If interested in the prospect of cataract surgery San Antonio TX patients must discuss it with their opthalmologist.

This procedure is termed a "phacoemulsification" and is usually done with a local anesthetic. A surgical laser is used to make a small incision in the side of the cornea in order that an ultrasound device can be inserted which will emit vibrations that cause the diseased lens to disintegrate into tiny particles which are then suctioned out of the site.

The original lens is replaced with an artificial one called an "intraocular lens" which is intended to last indefinitely and does not require any specific measures to maintain it. Intraocular lenses are made out of transparent plastic, acrylic, or silicone materials.

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure which usually takes less than an hour, and the patient can return home the same day. Most patients remain conscious while it is being done, as they are give a local anesthetic and sometimes a sedative as well. The surgeon will not operate on both eyes at the same time, so those with two cataracts will need to return several weeks later for a second operation.

It is normal to experience a bit of discomfort afterwards, and the eye may water easily and be more sensitive to the sun. Pain is usually mild and won't last long, easily controlled with over-the-counter analgesics, and wearing sunglasses will be helpful when outside in the sun. Just a day of rest with no strenuous activity is really all that's needed to recover, and eye drops will be prescribed to help prevent infection.

The patient should note an almost immediate improvement in his or her vision, as early as the day after surgery. A new glasses prescription will be provided to the patient, and after a month, the full extent of the improvement should be realized. Following the doctor's orders where the use of any prescribed medications is concerned, is essential to obtaining optimal results.

Lens implants are designed to be permanent and should remain in place for the patient's lifetime. There is really no reason why they would need to be replaced. However, sometimes a patient may experience cell growth in the eye's membrane around the lens, which can cloud its lining. If this is going to happen, it will normally occur within the first year and a half following treatment.

If a patient is found to be experiencing membrane overgrowth that is clouding the surface of the intraocular lens implant, the opthalmologist will perform and quick and painless procedure called a "YAG laser capsulotomy". This can be performed in the doctor's office and effectively restores normal eyesight immediately. The thing about cataracts is that they cannot grow back on an artificial lens, so there is no need to be concerned about that happening.




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