What You Need To Know About Cataract Laser Surgery
The development of cataracts, clouding of the eye lens, is common among older adults. Most people experience problems with cataracts by the time they reach 80. However, even young children can be affected by the eye condition. When you need surgery to remove a cataract, some doctors recommend laser surgery rather than traditional surgical techniques that require making an incision in the cornea. If you are unfamiliar with laser surgery, the following guide provides you with basic details about why you need the procedure and what you should expect.
Major Symptoms of Cataracts
Several symptoms indicate the presence of a cataract. You may begin to experience blurry vision or double vision. In addition, colors that usually seem clear will appear faded and normal lighting will seem too bright. You may also experience problems with your night vision.
If you have a pre-existing eye condition, such as nearsightedness, it may worsen when you have a cataract.
While these indicators may not necessarily mean you have a cataract, do not hesitate to schedule an eye appointment as soon as you notice any of these symptoms. If you delay treatment, you increase your chances of suffering permanently impaired vision and possibly blindness.
Traditional tests to determine cataracts include special vision tests and pupil dilation. However, your eye specialist can use devices like laser probes to detect the presence of cataracts even if your eye looks clear.
Laser Surgery vs. Traditional Surgery
When your regular eye doctor detects cataracts in your eye, they can refer you to an ophthalmologist, a doctor that specializes in eye physiology and diseases. Many general ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery. They will be able to tell you if your cataracts are the result of aging, from trauma to your eye or a side effect of another disease you are suffering from.
The majority of cataract surgeries are performed using traditional techniques. However, having a doctor make an incision with a surgical blade in your cornea to remove a cataract is not your only option.
Ask your ophthalmologist if you are a good candidate for laser surgery. The benefits of laser-assisted treatment include:
- No cuts or needle injections in the eye
- Faster recovery time
- Potential for better results
- Less post-surgery complications
In addition, if you suffer from astigmatism or glaucoma, the ophthalmologist can treat those conditions as well when they perform the laser-assisted cataract surgery.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will only be able to undergo surgery for one eye at a time regardless of what type of procedure the doctor performs. Your doctor will wait for one eye to heal before scheduling surgery for the other eye.
Post-surgery Life
Some patients who wore glasses before cataract surgery will not need to wear the corrective devices after treatment. However, you may still need to wear corrective lenses for some situations. Your vision will be improved, but your ophthalmologist will let you know perfect eyesight after surgery is not guaranteed.
If you had cataract surgery in one eye, you can reduce your risk of having surgery on your other eye by avoiding high-risk behavior. Heavy drinking, smoking tobacco products, taking diuretics, using steroids and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light increase your chances of developing cataracts.
If you live in an area with abundant sunlight, you should protect your eyes when you are outside for extended periods.
Regardless of what type of cataract surgery you undergo, you will be able to have the procedure completed at an outpatient clinic. Since removing cataracts is a routine treatment, you should have no fears about the outcome. You can schedule surgery and follow-up visits at your convenience in order to minimize interrupting your life.
Check out sites likehttp://www.checdocs.org for more information.
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