Cataract Surgery in Raebareli

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most routine procedures, with most senior surgeons in Raebareli having performed it thousands of times. However, like any surgery, it carries some risks, including:

If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will need two separate surgeries. These are typically scheduled two to four weeks apart, allowing the first eye to heal and your vision to stabilise 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 the next day, after a week, or even after three weeks, depending on the patient’s condition and recovery progress.

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

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, updating your eyeglasses or contact lenses may provide temporary vision improvement. However, as cataracts typically worsen over time, you and your ophthalmologist may eventually decide on cataract surgery to restore clear vision and support your daily activities.

Cataracts are not a medical emergency, so you can choose the timing of the surgery. However, if the symptoms are interfering with your daily activities, it is better to opt for 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 procedures in modern medicine.

Cataract surgery is usually painless, as it is performed under anaesthesia, either with eye drops or a local injection. While some patients may feel mild discomfort during the procedure, most find it pain-free. Surgeons take every precaution to ensure patient comfort, including providing oral medications before the surgery.

Cataract surgery is a daycare procedure, allowing you to go home shortly after it is completed. However, it is essential to have someone accompany you and drive you home.

Here’s what to expect during the surgery:

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

Cataract surgery is the 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 updating your glasses to temporarily improve your vision.

The actual cataract removal process takes only a few minutes. The entire procedure typically lasts less than 20 to 30 minutes, with post-operative care possibly requiring an additional hour.

Most people can go home approximately 30 minutes after the surgery. The eye shield is usually removed the next day, though you may need to wear it while sleeping for extra protection. Additionally, you’ll need to use prescribed eye drops for about four weeks to support healing and prevent infection.

It may take a few days to weeks for your vision to fully clear after surgery. Temporary side effects may 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 treat or improve cataracts.

Cataract surgery has a very high success rate in improving eyesight. After the 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 cloudy or blurry vision after cataract surgery, even months or years later. This condition, known as posterior capsular opacification (PCO) or secondary cataract, is common and normal.

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 affect your vision.

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

Although full recovery from cataract surgery may take four to six weeks, most people notice improved vision much sooner. During this time, there is usually little pain or discomfort. To ensure a smooth recovery, 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, typically about two to four weeks. Once healed, you will likely require a new prescription for glasses to optimise your vision.

Cataract surgery is a safe and routine procedure, but like any surgery, it comes with some risks, including:

• Eye infection, bleeding or swelling
• Retinal detachment, a condition where 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 cannot restore vision lost due to problems from other eye conditions, such as:

• Diabetes-related retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration

If you have cataracts in both eyes, you’ll need two separate surgeries. These are usually scheduled two to four weeks apart, allowing the first eye to heal and your vision to stabilise before the second surgery.