Cataracts are among the leading causes of acquired blindness all over the world. Persons with this problem complain of cloudiness of vision that starts gradually and progresses slowly over time. A majority of the cases are due to advancing age but it is also not uncommon for some children to be born with the problem. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. There are a number of important aspects of cataract surgery Los Angeles residents need to know.
The objective of performing the operation is to remove the diseased lens, clean it and return it or to replace it with a man-made one. Of the two procedures, the latter options is the more commonly performed. The eye surgeon will access the lens through a small incision made on the iris. The center, which is usually hardened, is liquefied to ease the removal. This is known as phacoemulsification.
The operation is usually performed as a day case in most centers. What this means is that one can be discharged home on the same day of their operation. The actual operation lasts just under one hour for most cases. Local anesthesia in the form of injections or eye drops is typically used to help numb the pain. Consequently, one remains fully awake as the surgery is performed.
A number of changes are occurring at this front. One of them is the use of laser in creating incisions on the cornea. Compared to the surgical blade that is used in traditional surgical procedures, the laser has better precision. Another related change is the use of laser in breaking down the hardened lens. The traditional method uses ultrasound to achieve this. There are reports that the new changes have resulted in faster recovery.
Persons undergoing the operation have to be evaluated first to determine whether or not they are fit to have it. One of the things that surgeon will have to do is to confirm that indeed the cause of blindness in the subject is due to glaucoma and not anything else. The next thing is to determine the intraocular pressure. In cases where this pressure is raised (such as in glaucoma), the operation is postponed to a time when the pressure is normalized.
The procedure is largely safe but a number of complications may be encountered. Bleeding during the operation (rare) and infections are among those that are most commonly seen but they can be easily managed. In the long term, the most significant complication is known as posterior capsule opacification. It is characterized by a recurrence of cloudiness within the lens. This may occur within months or years. Laser eye surgery is used to correct this complication.
You will realize the benefits of the surgery within hours to days. Maximum improvement will be noted within a couple of weeks and will require glasses to be realized. Some of the specific benefits include increased visual acuity, better perception of light and differentiation of different colors. Eye drops to be used for two or three days are usually prescribed by the doctor.
One must note that it is not all cases of cataract that are operated. Patients who have cloudiness that only affects their vision to a small extent usually do not require the operation. The ideal patients are those that have severe impairment of vision and a reduced quality of life as a result of the problem. If both eyes are affected, the surgeries are conducted within a few weeks of each other.
The objective of performing the operation is to remove the diseased lens, clean it and return it or to replace it with a man-made one. Of the two procedures, the latter options is the more commonly performed. The eye surgeon will access the lens through a small incision made on the iris. The center, which is usually hardened, is liquefied to ease the removal. This is known as phacoemulsification.
The operation is usually performed as a day case in most centers. What this means is that one can be discharged home on the same day of their operation. The actual operation lasts just under one hour for most cases. Local anesthesia in the form of injections or eye drops is typically used to help numb the pain. Consequently, one remains fully awake as the surgery is performed.
A number of changes are occurring at this front. One of them is the use of laser in creating incisions on the cornea. Compared to the surgical blade that is used in traditional surgical procedures, the laser has better precision. Another related change is the use of laser in breaking down the hardened lens. The traditional method uses ultrasound to achieve this. There are reports that the new changes have resulted in faster recovery.
Persons undergoing the operation have to be evaluated first to determine whether or not they are fit to have it. One of the things that surgeon will have to do is to confirm that indeed the cause of blindness in the subject is due to glaucoma and not anything else. The next thing is to determine the intraocular pressure. In cases where this pressure is raised (such as in glaucoma), the operation is postponed to a time when the pressure is normalized.
The procedure is largely safe but a number of complications may be encountered. Bleeding during the operation (rare) and infections are among those that are most commonly seen but they can be easily managed. In the long term, the most significant complication is known as posterior capsule opacification. It is characterized by a recurrence of cloudiness within the lens. This may occur within months or years. Laser eye surgery is used to correct this complication.
You will realize the benefits of the surgery within hours to days. Maximum improvement will be noted within a couple of weeks and will require glasses to be realized. Some of the specific benefits include increased visual acuity, better perception of light and differentiation of different colors. Eye drops to be used for two or three days are usually prescribed by the doctor.
One must note that it is not all cases of cataract that are operated. Patients who have cloudiness that only affects their vision to a small extent usually do not require the operation. The ideal patients are those that have severe impairment of vision and a reduced quality of life as a result of the problem. If both eyes are affected, the surgeries are conducted within a few weeks of each other.
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To undergo cataract surgery Los Angeles patients should first consult with our board-certified eye specialist. Make an appointment now through this site http://marshburneyecenter.com.
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