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.
If you meet the criteria to have surgery, the same will be scheduled at a time that is convenient to you and the operating team. One of the techniques used in performing the operation is known as phacoemulsification. Local anesthesia is first applied onto the eye so as to create a numbing effect (which in turn minimizes discomfort). This means that you will remain awake as the operation goes on.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
The form of management that is adopted is largely dependent on how advanced the condition is. If the lens has been damaged to a large extent, it has to be removed in its entirety. It is then replaced with an artificial alternative made of a material such as silicone, acrylic or plastic. On the other hand, if the damage is not too much, the lens 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 is fairly simple and takes an hour to complete on average. If both eyes are affected, two different operations, several weeks apart have to be scheduled. It is possible to go back to your regular routine as soon as you have left the operating room. Initial improvement is immediate and vision gets even better in subsequent weeks. Caution should be taken to avoid causing unnecessary injury.
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.
If you meet the criteria to have surgery, the same will be scheduled at a time that is convenient to you and the operating team. One of the techniques used in performing the operation is known as phacoemulsification. Local anesthesia is first applied onto the eye so as to create a numbing effect (which in turn minimizes discomfort). This means that you will remain awake as the operation goes on.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
The form of management that is adopted is largely dependent on how advanced the condition is. If the lens has been damaged to a large extent, it has to be removed in its entirety. It is then replaced with an artificial alternative made of a material such as silicone, acrylic or plastic. On the other hand, if the damage is not too much, the lens 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 is fairly simple and takes an hour to complete on average. If both eyes are affected, two different operations, several weeks apart have to be scheduled. It is possible to go back to your regular routine as soon as you have left the operating room. Initial improvement is immediate and vision gets even better in subsequent weeks. Caution should be taken to avoid causing unnecessary injury.
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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