Cataract surgery - what to expect
Cataract causes gradual blurring of the vision in an affected eye. Sometimes patients experience a change in prescription or glare initially, and others describe that colours no longer seem as bright. The only way to treat this is with surgery. If surgery is not done the vision will probably continue to deteriorate. There is no 'cut-off' that we need to wait for before surgery can be performed. The aim of catarct sugery is to remove the cataract and improve the vision.
Clinic appointment
The first part of your face to face appointment will involve an initial assessment by a specialist nurse who will asses your level of vision, use eyedrops to dialte your pupils and the perfrom the required preoperative scans of your eyes.
A few minutes later, once your pupils are dilated, I will spend time to hear how the cataracts are affecting your vision, examine your eyes and come up with a treatment plan that suits you.
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The whole appointment will last about 1 hour and the dilating drops will blur your vision so you will not be able to drive home.
Day of surgery
You will be asked to arrive at the hospital well in advance of the scheduled surgery time to allow for preparation. The ward nurses will run through a checklist with you and use eye drops which will dilate your pupil.
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Eye drops will also be used to numb the surface of your eye so you don't feel pain during the procedure. In some cases, a mild sedative might be administered to help you relax further, but you’ll still be awake.
In the operating theatre you’ll be asked to lie down on the surgical table and your head will be supported. I will clean around your eye and your face will be covered with a sterile drape. Your eye will be gently held open with a small device to prevent blinking.
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The procedure will take about 15-25 minutes, depending on the complexity. You’ll be awake during the surgery, and at times there may be mild discomfort, but it shouldn't be sore.
Aftercare
After surgery you don't need an eye shield or patch but you can ask for one if you'd prefer. You will be given eyedrops to uses for a few weeks after surgery to minimise inflamation in the eye. You’ll be given instructions for at-home care, including how to use prescribed eye drops and what to avoid (e.g., rubbing your eyes or engaging in strenuous activity).
Once you feel comfortable, you can go home, usually 30 minutes to an hour following the surgery. You will need someone to drive you home, as your vision will be blurry.
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The eye is not usually sore afterwards but if there is discomfort then paracetamol may be required.
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The time it takes for the vision to improve varies from person to person but most people notice an improvement within a few days.
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You'll be given a phone number for who to contact if your eye becomes very sore or if your vision gets a lot worse, although this is very uncommon.
Which lens is best for you?
At your pre-operative appointment the measurements we make allow us to choose a permanent 'intraocular' lens that is inserted during surgery. Each person is unique, with different visual requirements for their lifestyle and also each eye can have specific features. Intraocular lenses can correct short (myopia) and long (hypermetropia) sightedness, astigmatism and modern lenses can provide good vision for distance, intermediate and near vision.
Intraocular lenses that I offer:
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Monofocal - glasses will still be required for distance or near vision (or both)
Toric - corrects astigmatism
Extended depth of focus (EDOF) - corrects distance vision, allowing for intermediate and some unaided near vision
Toric EDOF - aims to reduce the need for glasses in patients with astigmatism
