Cataract Surgery in Amethi

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most commonly performed routine procedures. Most experienced surgeons have successfully performed it thousands of times. However, like any surgery, it carries some risks.:

If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will need two separate surgeries. These are usually scheduled about two to four weeks apart, allowing the first eye to heal and for vision to return before proceeding with the second surgery.

It is customary not to operate on both eyes simultaneously in adult cataract cases. However, the second eye can be operated on as early as the next day, after a week, or even three weeks, depending on the patient's condition and recovery.

You may need cataract surgery if cataracts are causing vision problems that interfere with daily activities like driving or reading.

Your provider may also need to remove a cataract to examine the back of your eye and manage other eye conditions, such as:

• Age-related changes in the retina (the tissue at the back of the eye).
• Diabetes-related retinopathy, an eye condition affecting people with diabetes.

When cataract symptoms first appear, a new prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses may improve your vision temporarily. However, cataracts tend to worsen over time. Eventually, you and your ophthalmologist may decide on cataract surgery to restore your vision and enable you to carry out daily activities effectively.

Cataracts are not an emergency, and you can choose the timing of your surgery based on what’s best for you. However, if the symptoms are interfering with your daily activities, it’s better to consider surgery sooner rather than later.

Cataracts and cataract surgery are very common among older adults. In fact, cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in medicine.

Cataract surgery is generally painless as it is performed under anaesthesia, either through eye drops or a local injection. While some patients may feel mild discomfort during the procedure, most find it painless. Surgeons take every precaution to minimise discomfort, including administering oral medications before the procedure to help patients stay relaxed and comfortable.

Cataract surgery is a daycare procedure, meaning you can go home shortly after it is completed. However, you'll need someone to accompany you and drive you home, as your vision may still be adjusting.

Here’s what to expect during the surgery:

• Numbing medication: Your provider will numb your eye with drops or an injection, and you may also receive medication to help you relax. During the surgery, you will be awake and able to see light and movement, but you won’t see the details of what the ophthalmologist is doing to your eye. The procedure is painless.
• Cataract removal: Your provider uses a special microscope to view your eye clearly. Tiny incisions are made to access the lens, which is then broken up using ultrasound waves and removed. Finally, the new intraocular lens (IOL) is carefully placed in position.
• Recovery: You won’t need stitches as the tiny incisions naturally close on their own. Your provider will place a protective shield, similar to an eye patch, over your eye to keep it safe during the healing process.

Cataract surgery is the best and only effective treatment for cataracts. Modern cataract surgery uses advanced laser technology, imaging systems, and phacoemulsification techniques, offering a high success rate. In the early stages, your eye doctor may recommend changing your glasses to temporarily improve your vision before considering surgery.

The actual cataract removal typically takes just a few minutes. The entire procedure is often completed within 20 to 30 minutes, though post-operative care and monitoring may take an additional hour or so.

Most people go home within about 30 minutes after cataract surgery. The eye shield can usually be removed the next day, although you may need to wear it while sleeping for protection. Special eye drops will be prescribed, typically used for about four weeks after surgery, to aid in healing and prevent infection.

It can take a few days to weeks for your vision to clear up. Other temporary side effects include:

• Blurred or double vision
• Gritty feeling in your eyes
• Red or bloodshot eyes
• Watery eyes

Cataract surgery is the only effective way to remove a cataract and restore clear vision. No medicines or eye drops have been proven to improve or treat cataracts.

Cataract surgery has a very high success rate in improving vision. After surgery, you can expect to:

• See things clearer
• Have less glare when you look at bright lights
• Tell the difference between colours

You may notice that your vision becomes cloudy or blurry after cataract surgery, even months or years later. This condition, called posterior capsular opacification (PCO) or a secondary cataract, is normal and can be easily treated.

PCO occurs when the posterior capsule, a thin membrane that previously held your natural lens and now supports the intraocular lens (IOL), becomes cloudy. This cloudiness can impact vision but is typically easy to address.

If your vision becomes blurry again, you may need a posterior capsulotomy, a laser procedure to restore clarity. The laser creates an opening in the cloudy posterior capsule, allowing light to pass through and improving your vision.

Although full recovery from cataract surgery can take four to six weeks, most people notice improved vision much sooner with minimal pain or discomfort. To ensure proper healing during the recovery period, follow your provider’s instructions to:

• Use eye drops as directed
• Use your eye shield, pad and eyeglasses
• Read, watch TV and use the computer as usual
• Use sunglasses when going outside
• Resume your activities and routine

Don’t

• Rub or press the eye
• Get water or soap in the eye
• Do strenuous activities
• Use eye makeup for one week
• Drive until your provider gives you the all-clear
• Swim for two weeks after surgery
• Fly without getting the all-clear from your provider

You’ll need to wait until your eye has fully healed after cataract surgery, which typically takes about two to four weeks. Once healing is complete, you’ll likely need a new prescription for glasses to achieve optimal vision.

Cataract surgery is a safe, routine procedure. But like any surgery, it comes with risks, including:

• Eye infection, bleeding or swelling
• Retinal detachment, when the retina separates from the back of the eye
• Damage to other parts of the eye
• Ongoing eye pain
• Blurred vision or vision loss
• Visual disturbances, such as glare, halos and shadows
• IOL becoming dislocated and moving out of place

No, cataract surgery can’t help restore vision due to problems from other eye conditions such as:

• Diabetes-related retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration

If you have cataracts in both eyes, two separate surgeries will be needed. These procedures are usually scheduled about two to four weeks apart to allow the first eye time to heal and for vision to return before the second surgery is performed.