How To Choose The Cataract Surgery That Is Right For You
The choice between manual or laser cataract surgery will ultimately come down to what a patient wants from their surgery. Some people simply want to replace a cloudy lens with a clear implant, and they are perfectly content to wear glasses to complement their improved vision. Others want the best possible vision they can get without glasses, and they are willing to pay more money to get that.
Researchers writing in the Ophthalmology and Therapy journal suggest that the two forms of treatment do not have to be in contention with one another. Laser cataract surgery was developed in the mid 1990s and has been around now for over 25 years. Laser-assisted surgery is a good complement to the long history and widespread acceptance of manual cataract surgery.
As you weigh your options regarding getting laser eye surgery for cataracts, talk with your doctor about your vision needs, your resources, and your expectations for life after cataracts. This conversation will help you choose the surgical option that is right for you.
Can I Have Cataract Surgery If I Dont Have Cataracts
If you dont have cataracts, you may be a candidate for a procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange or RLE. RLE is different than cataract surgery because there is no cloudy lens to remove.
Instead, during RLE, the natural lens that isnt cloudy gets removed and replaced with an IOL. RLE is often chosen for patients who are very farsighted or have early cataracts.
Have more questions about cataract surgery and what to expect during the procedure? Schedule a cataract screening at Diagnostic Eye Center in Houston, TX now!
River Oaks / Greenway Plaza Area 3405 Edloe Street, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77027 Monday – Thursday: 8 AM – 5:30 PM Friday: 8 AM – 3 PM
What Can I Expect During Laser Cataract Surgery
During laser cataract surgery, your surgeon will numb your eye and insert a small instrument between your eyelids to keep you from blinking. The laser is then used to create incisions, allowing your surgeon access to the inner lens. The laser breaks your lens into smaller pieces to be gently suctioned away.
Because you need a lens to see clearly, youll need your lens replaced with an artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens or IOL. The IOL will provide you with clear vision after cataract surgery. Depending on which IOL you choose, you may even be able to reduce your dependency on the glasses and/or contacts you currently wear. The IOL is placed where the natural lens once was. Once the IOL has been placed, laser cataract surgery is complete!
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Early Warning Signs & Symptoms Of Cataracts
Developing cataracts can be heartbreaking for anyone, no matter what stage theyre in or how mature they are. The condition will only continue to worsen until cataract surgery is performed. Even at that point, your eyes are bound to experience more trouble as you continue to age. Since early detection is often the best way to preserve your vision long-term, lets take a look at some of the most common signs of cataracts:
- Cloudy vision blurry vision distorted vision
- Light sensitivity glares or halos around lights
- Difficulty seeing at night colors fading
- Multiple vision double vision
- Frequently changing your eye prescription
If you experience any of these symptoms or notice a loved one complaining about any of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist immediately. Even when your vision is fine, you should schedule a regular appointment with your eye doctor so they can properly monitor eye health.
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Should I Receive Cataract Surgery
If you are experiencing increased glare or halos surrounding lights, double vision through one eye, blurry vision not correctable by glasses, difficulty seeing at night, or faded colors, you may be a good candidate for cataract surgery.
During your consultation, Dr. Alabata determines if your cataracts are ready for surgery, discusses your symptoms, goals and expectations, artificial lens implant choices, and recovery.
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Schedule Your Appointment Today
Left untreated, cataracts can drastically impact your daily life and even result in complete blindness. Fortunately, laser cataract surgery in Chicago, IL, is a quick, safe option to remove cataracts and dramatically improve your eyesight.
If youre interested in laser-assisted cataract surgery, contact Kirk Eye Center today for a consultation at our River Forest or Gurnee, IL office.
How Is Laser Cataract Surgery Different From Traditional Cataract Surgery
In traditional cataract surgery, incisions in the cornea to access the cataract are made using a handheld, single-use, diamond blade. Your surgeon will then use a specialized microsurgical instrument to create an opening in the lens capsule of the eye that holds the cataract. The goal in these steps is to make the corneal incisions precise and the opening in the lens capsule as circular as possible, in the right location, and sized to fit the replacement lens. To remove the cataract, a small probe is inserted into the eye, emitting ultrasound waves to break up the cataract into pieces. The probe is also used to suction out the fragments of the cataract.
With laser cataract surgery, the incisions may be made with the laser, which is also used to create a more precise opening into the lens capsule. In addition, the laser energy is used to soften the cataract before removal. Following the laser steps, the fragments of the cataract are still removed using the same probe used in traditional surgery and, in both procedures, an intraocular lens is inserted.
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Laser Cataract Surgery Procedure
Wondering what to expect on the day of the surgery? Expect the whole process to last 3 to 4 hours from check-in to discharge. The procedure itself takes less than 30 minutes. Most people are awake for the surgery, but they are given medicine to help them relax.
First, the eyes are dilated using medication. This usually comes in the form of eye drops. Dilation makes it easier to use 3D mapping and for the surgeon to examine all parts of your eye.
One eye is operated on at a time. The eye is numbed for the surgery, so you wonât feel anything. You will probably see the flashing lights of the laser and feel mild pressure. Some people donât feel anything at all.
Lasers Reduce Traditional Risks
As with any type of surgery, cataract surgery comes with any inherent risks.
Cutting open your eye to replace the lens can lead to bleeding, infections, or other problems. Doctors are human and make mistakes, which can cause problems far worse than a cataract.
Laser cataract surgery reduces many of these risks. Its non-invasive, which decreases the risk of mistakes, infections, and more.
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So How Long Does Cataract Surgery Last
Cataract surgery is a quick procedure thats also an outpatient procedure . The actual procedure itself only takes about 15-25 minutes per eye, though youll need to schedule two separate appointments if you have cataracts in both eyes.You should also account for pre-surgery and post-surgery, which can add 30-45 minutes to the overall appointment. Pre-surgery generally includes administering local anesthesia and eye drops. The eye doctor will have you wait in a resting area for 30 minutes after the surgery.All in all, you can expect the cataract surgery appointment to last anywhere from 60-90 minutes. Youll need someone to drive you home afterward and should expect to be back in the doctors office regularly during the recovery period, that way your eye health can be properly monitored.
When Is It Safe To Drive After Laser Cataract Surgery
Laser cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful procedures performed today. At Wang Vision Institute, Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel field questions about different aspects of this operation. This includes the recovery period and what to expect after cataract surgery.
So, can you drive after cataract surgery, and when is it safe to start driving again? Although the answer varies between patients, our team can give you a specific answer during your eye consultation in Nashville, TN. Learn more about laser cataract surgery recovery time by giving us a .
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How Long Does Basic Or Traditional Cataract Surgery Take
Basic or traditional cataract surgery for routine cases takes approximately 10-15 minutes. Unlike in laser cataract surgery, the steps of the surgery that the laser would perform, are performed by hand instead. This typically does not add much time to the procedure. For routine cataracts, the time it takes to perform basic cataract surgery is approximately the same as laser assisted cataract surgery.
Floaters After Cataract Surgery Are Mostly Normal
Floaters after cataract surgery are not uncommon and in most of the cases, they dont pose any threat to your eye or vision. In a small fraction of patients, they may be a sign of a complication of the cataract surgery itself or a pre-existing eye condition which becomes recognizable after surgery.
Floaters are usually small moving specks in the vitreous which is a gel-like structure inside the eye. What you actually see is the shadow of the opacity cast on the retina.
They are visible especially in bright light and against bright background such as a white wall or the sky. They move in the direction of the movement of the eye. They may be irregularly shaped dots, cobwebs, threads, etc. Because of their movement, they are also known as muscae volitantes .
Eye floaters may vary in size also some are tiny dots while some are quite large. They may be well-defined if they are close to the retina and more hazy in outline if they are away from the retina .
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Tips For Management Of Eye Floaters
Here are some tips for keeping your sanity throughout the day. Being in the light is annoying and frustrating. You have eye floaters and now you need a better way of living.
When To Drive Safely Again
It is important that you do not operate any vehicles until Dr. Wang or Dr. Frenkel gives you clearance first. It could be that we recommend waiting a little longer before driving again due to safety concerns. The amount of time you need to wait depends on factors such as your eye health and whether you experienced any complications during laser cataract surgery. That said, we estimate waiting several days to several weeks before getting behind the wheel again.
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How Long Is Recovery From Cataract Surgery
Blurry eyesight, watery eyes, grittiness, double vision, and a red or bloodshot eye are common immediately following cataract surgery. You will need a ride home from surgery. Most patients vision recover within a few days. Limitations in activity are from 1 2 weeks for optimal results .
During recovery, a protective shield should be worn over the treated eye while asleep for the first week following surgery.
Dr. Alabata will prescribe eye drops to ensure a safe and effective recovery. Most patients will start applying the eyedrops the day before surgery and continue them on a tapered basis after the operation.
It is recommended that you rest your eyes following your surgery for a more comfortable eye the following morning. At Alabata Eye Center, we do not recommend anything in or around your operative eye other than your prescribed medication eye drops for at least 2 weeks.
Learn What To Expect After Cataract Surgery
Patients are often excited about the results of their laser cataract surgery. This procedure can help you see more clearly during everyday activities, including driving. If you want to know what to expect after cataract surgery, meet with our trusted physicians Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel. At Wang Vision Institute in Nashville, TN, our goal is to help you achieve a lifetime of improved vision.
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Its More Common Than You Think
Unlike major procedures like heart or brain surgery, laser cataract surgery doesnt get talked about all that often.
Because of this, many people believe that cataracts are fairly uncommon, and in turn, the surgeries to correct them seem even less common.
But in reality, cataract surgery is very common.
As science and medicine continue to improve and more and more Americans make it to 80 years of age, the number of people suffering from cataracts increases. In turn, so do the number of surgeries being performed.
Each year, more than 3.5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S.
Your Best Vision In A Long Time
A year after your cataract surgery, youre probably remembering when you asked yourself, How long does it take for vision to clear up after cataract surgery? Now you know the answer.
If you or someone you know has the symptoms of cataracts, schedule an appointment with one of our Knoxville-area eye doctors to see how we can help.
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What To Expect After Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery involves replacing one organ in your eye with an artificial organ, which is invasive. This means you should expect it to take one to two months, on average, for your eye to heal before you can gradually ease back into various activities.
As you heal from cataract surgery, you should expect the following:
- Use prescription eye drops as directed by your surgeon and optometrist. You will receive a prescription for antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection, and you might receive a prescription for steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation. Use these only as directed and follow your optometrists timeline to taper or quit taking them.
- Moderate your physical activity, including moving around your house, until your optometrist clears you for certain activities. As your eye heals, you will be able to move more, including returning to some exercise routines.
- Wear eye protection for showers and baths, at night, and in other situations to support healing.
- Go to regular checkups with your optometrist who will monitor your eyes healing progress. These will be scheduled every week or two initially. Then, theyll move to monthly, so you can know when certain activities are safe and get updates to your glasses prescriptions.
What Is Posterior Capsular Opacification
You may notice that your vision becomes cloudy or blurry after your cataract surgery even months or years after the procedure. Providers call this posterior capsular opacification, or PCO, and its normal. Its also called a secondary cataract.
PCO happens because a membrane called the posterior capsule becomes cloudy. The posterior capsule once held your eyes lens and now holds the intraocular lens in place.
If your vision starts to blur again, you may need a posterior capsulotomy to restore your vision. A laser makes an opening in the cloudy capsule. This procedure can give you clearer vision again.
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How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take
While it is natural to feel apprehensive ahead of a surgical procedure, the great news about cataract surgery is that it has earned a reputation for being safe and highly successful. At the Laser Eye Center of Miami, our doctors want to make sure our patients know all of the details about cataract treatment, including just how long the procedure takes. Here is the breakdown:
What Is The Difference Between Traditional And Laser Cataract Surgery
Cataracts are a visual impairment in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, resulting in blurry vision. Surgeries performed to correct cataract changes involve implanting artificial lenses to replace the impaired natural lens. There are two ways to perform this surgerythe traditional surgery method or with laser cataract surgery. The doctor will work with the patients needs to determine the surgery that is best for their unique eye.
Here are three differences between laser and cataract surgery:
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How Long Does It Take To Recover From Multifocal Cataract Surgery 2021
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Multifocal Cataract Surgery 2021. Full recovery can take up to eight weeks. Usually these instructions will be given to you as a handout that you can take home with you on surgery day.
If you have your cataracts removed, here is what the surgery is like: Few people experience serious complications from cataract surgery, the most common procedure in the united states. Some 90% of people have successful surgery, which is improvement in vision.
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Its almost one and a half months since the operation and he still says the vision is not clear and there is a thin smoke layer. Therefore, the surgery does not put significant strain on the heart or the lungs.
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You’ll usually see your eye doctor a day or two after your surgery, the following week, and then again after about a month to monitor healing. These side effects usually improve within a few days, but it can take 4 to 6 weeks to recover fully.
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Any soreness and discomfort should disappear within a couple of days. 3 if you notice any significant reduction in your vision, tell your surgeon immediately.
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Some 90% of people have successful surgery, which is improvement in vision. It can take 2 to 6 weeks to fully recover from cataract surgery.
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Cataract surgery is the most common eye surgery. A femtosecond laser is used to break the lens into small pieces.
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