Cataract is today one of the leading causes of visual impairment. It is a condition that may be congenital (present at birth) or may be acquired in advanced age. The main characteristic of this condition is clouding of the eye lens. When encountered among newborns it is usually the result of chemical or physical trauma to the fetus. If they plan to undergo cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to understand a number of things in advance.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
If you meet the criteria to have surgery, the same will be scheduled at a time that is convenient to you and the operating team. One of the techniques used in performing the operation is known as phacoemulsification. Local anesthesia is first applied onto the eye so as to create a numbing effect (which in turn minimizes discomfort). This means that you will remain awake as the operation goes on.
A surgical cut has to be created on the cornea to access the lens. Laser techniques have been adopted for this use to improve outcomes. In some cases the lens is usually quite hardened by the condition and has to be broken down to smaller pieces using an ultrasound probe. The lens can then be removed piecemeal.
Depending on how advanced the condition is, the lens may be removed in its entirety or it may be cleaned and returned to its position. If replacement is to be done, an artificial intraocular lens is used. Artificial lenses are made of materials such as plastic, silicone and acrylic. They placement requires that prescription glasses be prescribed as well because they have no ability to undergo accommodation changes.
Cataract removal surgery is a largely safe operation with at least 98% of the procedures being non-eventful. However, being a surgical operation there will always be a risk of complications. In the short term, eye infection, swelling and bleeding may be encountered. This risk is higher in persons that have pre-existing eye disease. Antibiotic and steroid eye drops issued after the operations are very useful in minimizing the risk of infections.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
There is a marked similarity between cataract and other conditions that cause blindness. An example is glaucoma. It is for this reason that one needs to be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for a definitive diagnosis to be made. The ophthalmologist has specialized equipment that are used to examine the eye lens helping rule out any other conditions. The examination is also used to determine the suitability of the candidate for surgery.
If you meet the criteria to have surgery, the same will be scheduled at a time that is convenient to you and the operating team. One of the techniques used in performing the operation is known as phacoemulsification. Local anesthesia is first applied onto the eye so as to create a numbing effect (which in turn minimizes discomfort). This means that you will remain awake as the operation goes on.
A surgical cut has to be created on the cornea to access the lens. Laser techniques have been adopted for this use to improve outcomes. In some cases the lens is usually quite hardened by the condition and has to be broken down to smaller pieces using an ultrasound probe. The lens can then be removed piecemeal.
Depending on how advanced the condition is, the lens may be removed in its entirety or it may be cleaned and returned to its position. If replacement is to be done, an artificial intraocular lens is used. Artificial lenses are made of materials such as plastic, silicone and acrylic. They placement requires that prescription glasses be prescribed as well because they have no ability to undergo accommodation changes.
Cataract removal surgery is a largely safe operation with at least 98% of the procedures being non-eventful. However, being a surgical operation there will always be a risk of complications. In the short term, eye infection, swelling and bleeding may be encountered. This risk is higher in persons that have pre-existing eye disease. Antibiotic and steroid eye drops issued after the operations are very useful in minimizing the risk of infections.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Recurrence of cataract may happen after some years in a few patients. The cause of this is the detachment of capsule lens and re-accumulation of the cloudy substance (also referred to as posterior capsule opacification). This has to be corrected surgically to regain normalcy though an operation known capsulotomy. Capsulotomy can be safely performed in a private clinic.
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