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.
Since cataract has a presentation that is similar to several other similar conditions, it is important that one visits an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for evaluation. The specialist uses special equipment to examine the eye and establish that the problem is indeed glaucoma and not any other. The next step is to assess the need for surgical intervention. Surgery may not be necessary if the condition is not causing significant visual impairment.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
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.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and 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.
Note that cataract may recur in some cases after some years. The recurrent condition is also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO. It comes about when the cloudy substance re-accumulates just behind the lens that has been replaced. Capsulotomy is an operation that is performed to correct this abnormality. It is a shorter procedure than the initial operation.
Since cataract has a presentation that is similar to several other similar conditions, it is important that one visits an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for evaluation. The specialist uses special equipment to examine the eye and establish that the problem is indeed glaucoma and not any other. The next step is to assess the need for surgical intervention. Surgery may not be necessary if the condition is not causing significant visual impairment.
Candidates that meet the required criteria are taken through a preparation process. Part of this will involve getting a detailed explanation on what this procedure entails. The other important aspect of preparation is to undergo several blood tests to ensure that the surgical risks are not unnecessarily high. Phacoemulsification is the commonest technique that is employed here. In performing phacoemulsification, the eye is first numbed using local anesthesia.
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.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and 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.
Note that cataract may recur in some cases after some years. The recurrent condition is also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO. It comes about when the cloudy substance re-accumulates just behind the lens that has been replaced. Capsulotomy is an operation that is performed to correct this abnormality. It is a shorter procedure than the initial operation.
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