Cataract Surgery

As we get older, the natural lens of the eye deteriorates in one of two ways. The first sign of deterioration often begins in our 40's when the natural lens of the eye becomes less flexible and we gradually lose our ability to focus from far to near and back again. Bifocal glasses, reading glasses or bifocal contact lenses are frequently used to correct this condition.

The second sign of deterioration is the formation of cataracts, which is a clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens. The natural lens focuses light rays on the retina to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision is blurred. This is a visual impairment that often affects us in our 60's, 70's or 80's.

How is a cataract treated?
Surgery is the only way a cataract can be removed. However, if symptoms of a cataract are not bothering you very much, surgery may not be needed. Sometimes a simple change in you eyeglass prescription may be helpful. No medications, dietary supplements or exercises have been shown to prevent or cure cataracts.

When should cataract surgery be performed?
Surgery should be considered when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with your daily activities. You must decide if you can see well enough to do your job, drive safely, and read or watch TV in comfort. Based on your symptoms and the findings of a thorough eye exam this determination would be made.

What preparation do I need?
You should inform your internist or family physician that you are having surgery. In most cases nothing needs to be done. It is not necessary to discontinue any of your medications including aspirin or other blood thinners you may be taking. The surgery is usually done with the patient awake, although an oral sedative may be given pre-operatively to relax the patient or a light intravenous anesthesia may be administered by an anesthesiologist. Because of the sedation you cannot drive home from the hospital. However, under most circumstances, you can drive the following day. Several weeks prior to surgery you will be prescribed several eye drops to use starting two days prior to surgery.

What happens the day of surgery?
You will need to arrive at the hospital approximately 1-1/2 hours prior to your surgery time. The nurse will review your medical history and confirm the correct eye for surgery. A sedative will be given and eye drops will be placed in your eye to dilate the pupil. At the time for surgery, you will be wheeled into the operating room and numbing drops will be instilled in your eye. There are no shots or injections. During the procedure you will see a bright light but will not see the actual surgery being performed. At the conclusion of the surgery a clear plastic shield will be taped in place over your eye for protection. You will be discharged when you are stable and instructed to go home and rest the remainder of the day.

What happens after surgery?
The next day you will need to be seen in the office. You can usually drive to that visit. The eye drops you started before surgery will be continued for several more weeks. One week after surgery you will be examined and at that time given a new prescription for glasses. If you were scheduled to have cataract surgery on your second eye, which typically is about two weeks apart from the first surgery, the new glasses prescription would not be given until one week after the second surgery.

What are the risks?
There are approximately 14.2 million cataract surgeries performed yearly in the United States. Cataract surgery is very safe with serious complications occurring less than one in a hundred. But complications could occur and surgery should not be done unless you are having difficulty performing your daily activities such as driving or reading. Complications, although rare, include retinal detachment, corneal swelling, bleeding and infection.

The Koziol-Thoms Eye Associates is committed to provide best Lasik Eye Surgery Chicago and Cataract Surgery thorough, skillful eye care with courtesy, gentleness and respect for their patients.