A cataract is an opacity or clouding of the lens inside the eye, and can occur naturally as we age making it more difficult to see. As mentioned in the previous blog article, if your cataract is mild we can often manage your symptoms with a stronger pair of glasses or extra light for near vision tasks, such as reading. When the cataract progresses to the point where glasses are no longer helping, and the vision is bothering you, you might decide to have cataract surgery – the only proven effective treatment for cataracts. Your Eyes of Howick optometrist can discuss the options with you and, when you’re ready, refer you to an ophthalmologist, an eye specialist who will perform the surgery.
Surgery:
After being referred, your ophthalmologist and their team will perform an assessment and take all the necessary measurements to determine your suitability for cataract surgery. They will discuss the process with you, go through any risks, and answer any questions you may have.
Cataract surgery is a quick, painless day-procedure, which means you won’t be required to stay overnight. In fact, most patients will be able to go home within an hour of the surgery, and return to normal activities within a few days.
Before the surgery, eye drops will be used to numb the eye and dilate (enlarge) the pupil. You may receive a mild sedative to help you relax, and whilst you will be awake for the procedure, you won’t be able to see what the surgeon is doing to your eye.
During the surgery, your ophthalmologist removes the cloudy lens, and replaces it with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) or implant. This generally takes about 30-45mins, and nowadays surgeons are able to create ‘self-sealing’ incisions so that stitches are not required.
Recovery:
After surgery you will rest in a recovery area, and have an eye shield placed onto the eye to protect it. Your surgeon will go through your aftercare, including your eye drops schedule, do’s and don’ts, and when you should be expecting follow up appointments.
FAQ’s
Will my cataract come back?
No; Cataract surgery is permanent, so it’s not possible for another one to develop once the natural lens has been removed. However, in approximately 10% of patients, a gradual haziness might start to develop some months or even years following the surgery as the lens capsule that supports the implant starts to cloud up. This is easily remedied with a painless laser treatment (called YAG laser capsulotomy) performed by your surgeon, within a matter of minutes.
If you do notice any vision changes after your surgery, it is important to get in touch either with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Do I have to get cataract surgery?
Whilst it’s important for children with congenital cataracts to have them identified and treated as early as possible, age-related cataracts are generally safe to be left in the eye. Your optometrist might make a strong recommendation for surgery however, if you are failing to meet the legal driving standard (or close to failing) and wish to continue driving, or if the cataract impairs monitoring of other eye conditions (such as glaucoma or macula degeneration).
Will I need glasses after the surgery?
As well as restoring clear vision, the implant will aim to correct some of your existing prescription. This will mean that your old glasses will no longer work and will need to be updated. Most people will need glasses for either distance, near, or both, and this is something that your Eyes of Howick optometrist can discuss with you.
As a general rule of thumb, we will see you for a check-up 4-6wks after your surgery, once you have been discharged from your surgeon and the eye has healed. At this point the prescription should be stable enough for us to determine your new script and update your glasses.
Will I need to keep having eye exams if I can see well?
Yes; It is very important to continue to have regular eye examinations, even if you are not having any trouble with the vision and feel you don’t need glasses. As well as correcting your vision, your optometrist is also checking your eyes for any signs of disease, and some conditions will have no symptoms at all until it is too late.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common eye operations performed in NZ today. It is very safe, highly effective, and has a success rate of over 97%. If you have concerns regarding cataracts, get in touch with us and book for your assessment today.