Cataract surgery is a safe, common and effective outpatient procedure performed in an operating room setting to ensure a sterile environment. To remove the cataract, the surgeon makes an incision around the eye's lens, and then uses ultrasound technology to break up and remove the cloudy lens. After that, a new lens is slipped into the eye.
Sound scary? It's not. Cataract surgery is something that just about everyone will need if they live long enough. Thankfully, with all of the modern tools and technologies available today, much of it has become fairly routine. The vast majority of people have excellent outcomes with improvement in their quality of vision.
The surgeons at Centre Eye Physicians and Surgeons use the most advanced surgical technique, which is done through an incision so tiny that it seals on its own without suturing. It is also done without any shots, just a combination of numbing eye drops and light intravenous sedation. The entire procedure usually only takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Most patients do not experience any discomfort during the surgery and recover very quickly afterwards.
Today, the vast majority of cataract procedures are done using a technique called “phacoemulsification” referenced above. Using this technique, a very small incision, about 2mm in size, is made in the cornea. A small instrument is then inserted into the eye that uses a combination of ultrasound and water to break down the cataract into very tiny pieces. The lens material is then gently vacuumed from the eye. The only part of the lens that is left behind is the clear outer skin of the lens called the lens capsule. An artificial lens implant is then folded up, injected through this small incision and then unfolded inside the eye. The new lens is held firmly in place by resting inside the lens capsule which quickly adheres very tightly to the implant.
Like any surgical procedure, there are potential complications with cataract surgery. Fortunately, with modern cataract surgery, these complications are quite rare. If you are contemplating cataract surgery you should expect your surgeon to have a frank and open discussion with you regarding the risks involved in order to make an informed decision. Do not be afraid to ask questions about any matter that you do not feel you understand clearly.
Sound scary? It's not. Cataract surgery is something that just about everyone will need if they live long enough. Thankfully, with all of the modern tools and technologies available today, much of it has become fairly routine. The vast majority of people have excellent outcomes with improvement in their quality of vision.
The surgeons at Centre Eye Physicians and Surgeons use the most advanced surgical technique, which is done through an incision so tiny that it seals on its own without suturing. It is also done without any shots, just a combination of numbing eye drops and light intravenous sedation. The entire procedure usually only takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Most patients do not experience any discomfort during the surgery and recover very quickly afterwards.
Today, the vast majority of cataract procedures are done using a technique called “phacoemulsification” referenced above. Using this technique, a very small incision, about 2mm in size, is made in the cornea. A small instrument is then inserted into the eye that uses a combination of ultrasound and water to break down the cataract into very tiny pieces. The lens material is then gently vacuumed from the eye. The only part of the lens that is left behind is the clear outer skin of the lens called the lens capsule. An artificial lens implant is then folded up, injected through this small incision and then unfolded inside the eye. The new lens is held firmly in place by resting inside the lens capsule which quickly adheres very tightly to the implant.
Like any surgical procedure, there are potential complications with cataract surgery. Fortunately, with modern cataract surgery, these complications are quite rare. If you are contemplating cataract surgery you should expect your surgeon to have a frank and open discussion with you regarding the risks involved in order to make an informed decision. Do not be afraid to ask questions about any matter that you do not feel you understand clearly.
