Patients who suffer from cataracts have difficulty seeing clearly since the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, preventing light from entering properly. If not treated, the vision will worsen to the point of blindness. Fortunately this condition can be easily corrected with a straightforward surgical procedure. If they wish to learn more about cataract surgery San Antonio TX patients should visit an opthalmologist.
After the patient is given a local anesthetic, the surgeon will make a tiny incision on the lateral part of the cornea using a laser instrument. Then a device which produces ultrasonic vibrations is inserted in the incision, which causes the diseased lens to disintegrate into small particles which are vacuumed out of the eye. The procedure is known as "phacoemulsification".
The original lens is replaced with an artificial one called an "intraocular lens" which is intended to last indefinitely and does not require any specific measures to maintain it. Intraocular lenses are made out of transparent plastic, acrylic, or silicone materials.
A cataract operation is typically an outpatient procedure, and the patient can return home shortly after. It is normally completed in less than an hour, and in most instances the patient remains awake but sedated throughout the procedure. Surgeons prefer to only operate on one eye at a time, so if the patient has cataracts in both eyes, two surgeries will be needed, usually several weeks apart.
It is normal to experience a bit of discomfort afterwards, and the eye may water easily and be more sensitive to the sun. Pain is usually mild and won't last long, easily controlled with over-the-counter analgesics, and wearing sunglasses will be helpful when outside in the sun. Just a day of rest with no strenuous activity is really all that's needed to recover, and eye drops will be prescribed to help prevent infection.
Improvement of vision should be noted in the patient the day after surgery. In a month's time of so, he or she will be prescribed new glasses and at this point the full extent of the improvement in eyesight should be apparent. Taking care to use all medications prescribed following surgery is important to obtain the best results possible.
Generally a lens implant is a permanent fixture that will last for the patient's lifetime and will not need to be replaced. Although rarely, there may be clouding of the lining of the lens several months or years after it has been installed. This happens as a result of cell growth in the membrane of the eye which surrounds the synthetic lens.
If a patient is found to be experiencing membrane overgrowth that is clouding the surface of the intraocular lens implant, the opthalmologist will perform and quick and painless procedure called a "YAG laser capsulotomy". This can be performed in the doctor's office and effectively restores normal eyesight immediately. The thing about cataracts is that they cannot grow back on an artificial lens, so there is no need to be concerned about that happening.
After the patient is given a local anesthetic, the surgeon will make a tiny incision on the lateral part of the cornea using a laser instrument. Then a device which produces ultrasonic vibrations is inserted in the incision, which causes the diseased lens to disintegrate into small particles which are vacuumed out of the eye. The procedure is known as "phacoemulsification".
The original lens is replaced with an artificial one called an "intraocular lens" which is intended to last indefinitely and does not require any specific measures to maintain it. Intraocular lenses are made out of transparent plastic, acrylic, or silicone materials.
A cataract operation is typically an outpatient procedure, and the patient can return home shortly after. It is normally completed in less than an hour, and in most instances the patient remains awake but sedated throughout the procedure. Surgeons prefer to only operate on one eye at a time, so if the patient has cataracts in both eyes, two surgeries will be needed, usually several weeks apart.
It is normal to experience a bit of discomfort afterwards, and the eye may water easily and be more sensitive to the sun. Pain is usually mild and won't last long, easily controlled with over-the-counter analgesics, and wearing sunglasses will be helpful when outside in the sun. Just a day of rest with no strenuous activity is really all that's needed to recover, and eye drops will be prescribed to help prevent infection.
Improvement of vision should be noted in the patient the day after surgery. In a month's time of so, he or she will be prescribed new glasses and at this point the full extent of the improvement in eyesight should be apparent. Taking care to use all medications prescribed following surgery is important to obtain the best results possible.
Generally a lens implant is a permanent fixture that will last for the patient's lifetime and will not need to be replaced. Although rarely, there may be clouding of the lining of the lens several months or years after it has been installed. This happens as a result of cell growth in the membrane of the eye which surrounds the synthetic lens.
If a patient is found to be experiencing membrane overgrowth that is clouding the surface of the intraocular lens implant, the opthalmologist will perform and quick and painless procedure called a "YAG laser capsulotomy". This can be performed in the doctor's office and effectively restores normal eyesight immediately. The thing about cataracts is that they cannot grow back on an artificial lens, so there is no need to be concerned about that happening.
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