Cataracts are one of the most common eye-related problems in the world today. It occurs when the eye lens becomes cloudy, leading to misty and hazy vision. Occurring naturally due to age, anyone that develops cataracts will eventually see a significant loss of clear vision, which can only be addressed through surgery.

Cataract surgery happens to be a very straight-forward procedure. Completed on hundreds of thousands of patients annually, cataract surgery helps to restore vision, preventing blindness from eventually developing.

Here’s everything you need to know about cataract surgery:

When is cataract surgery necessary?

A loss in vision is common in aging people, with many suffering from cloudy vision at some stage of their later years. Cataracts can take years to fully develop however, allowing people to live with it for quite some time before vision is impaired.

However, cataracts eventually develop into a much more significant problem over time. The only way to rectify the issue is by surgical procedure, where the cataracts are removed from the eye.

Should your vision not be impaired by cataracts, then you can hold off on surgery. It’s only truly necessary once it starts to have a negative impact on your day-to-day life. For instance, if you can no longer read, drive, or struggle to see in most conditions, then surgery is advised.

What does cataract surgery involve?

Cataract surgery is quite a simple routine. You are provided with some local anaesthetic and some eye drops, after which the eye surgeon makes a minor incision on your eye. If you are feeling anxious about the procedure you may be given a minor sedative to stay relaxed.

The eye lens is then removed and replaced with an artificial implant lens known as an intraocular lens, after which the surgery is complete!

What you can expect from cataract surgery

There are a few things to expect from cataract surgery, none of which should give you any concern.

The procedure is very simple and shouldn’t take longer than an hour, so expect a total surgery time of around 20-40 minutes in most cases. Only one eye is treated per surgery, so you will likely require two procedures should you have it in both eyes, which will take place a few weeks apart.

So, you can also expect to go home that day. Remember, you are only under local anaesthetic, which means you will be awake for the entire procedure. Don’t worry; you won’t be able to feel a thing! Most patients are home just a few hours after surgery, so it’s not too taxing of a day.

Also, your vision may be quite blurry for a few days after the surgery, although some people see their vision improve that same day. Don’t have high expectations of this however, as it’s best to assume you will need a few days to fully recover.

Are there any risks with cataract surgery?

Serious risks from cataract surgery are very low. The procedure is one of the safest and most straight-forward administered to patients, although there are some minor risks worth knowing. For instance, inflammation in the eye may occur, while more serious problems such as a detached retina are possible.

However, chances of complications remain low. Serious complications are reported in around 1 percent of cataract surgeries, so you should be completely free of risk!

At Rohr eye and laser center we offer cataract surgery with Tecnis IOLs or Toric IOLs. Don’t let cataracts affect your vision. We recommend you get a eye exam each year to insure your eyes are healthy. If you are worried about your vision and need a check up or would like to schedule a surgery, give us a call at 877-579-0202. You can also visit our website at www.michiganlasik.com. Our office is located in Grand Blanc, Michigan.