Basic Facts About Cataract Surgery Orange County Patients Need To Know

By Jerri Perry


When the lens in the eye becomes clouded this is known as a cataract and it negatively affects vision by causing images to appear blurry. It may occur in both eyes or just one and is most often related to aging. Initially it can sometimes be improved by a new eyeglasses prescription, although in many cases surgery is the only real long-term solution. Before undergoing cataract surgery Orange County patients need to be aware of all it involves.

The surgical treatment of cataracts involves removing the damaged lens and putting an artificial one its place. This is generally indicated when the patient's daily visual ability is being hindered and it is impairing his or her activities such as driving and reading. It is not necessary to hurry into this procedure, the patient can take his or her time to decide if it's the right decision.

Occasionally surgery will also be indicated when the presence of the cataract impedes the necessary treatment of other eye conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Through regular eye exams the doctor should recognize if operating on the eye is the most appropriate solution. If both eyes require surgery, usually there will be a month or two between each procedure.

There are different methods of performing this operation but the most common one used is referred to as "phacoemulsification". An incision is made in the side of the cornea and the damaged lens is removed by suction. The artificial lens replacing the natural one is manufactured out of clear plastic. In about 90% of patients this procedure is a success.

One or two weeks before the operation is scheduled, preparations will be made. The patient will need to undergo tests to evaluate the curve of the cornea and the exact shape and size of the eye, this information is used to select the proper type of artificial lens. Food and drink will not normally not be permitted in the twelve hours before the procedure.

The patient will be treated on an out-patient basis at an eye clinic or hospital. A local anesthetic to numb the feeling in the eye is usually all that's needed but in some instances a general anesthesia may be given. The whole procedure takes about an hour and very little pain is involved.

Immediately after the surgery, the treated eye will have a patch placed on it and the patient will be told to rest. Once it has been determined that there are no complications, patients can go home as long as they have someone to drive them. Some itchiness, slight discomfort, or liquid discharge may be present for one or two days at most.

Instilling eyedrops for a few days as this helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Glasses or an eye shield will also need to be worn and it should be acceptable to resume a moderate level of activity. Regular check-ups will monitor the healing process and in most cases, eight weeks after cataract surgery Orange County patients can look forward to a full recovery.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/weightloss33 Favorites More

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | Facebook Themes