If you have cataracts, you have plenty of company: According to data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 20 million Americans aged 40 and older have at least one cataract, which means most of those individuals are experiencing at least some degree of vision loss or other problems as a result.
At Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts, our team offers state-of-the-art cataract surgery to remove your cloudy lens and replace it with a clear lens so you can enjoy better vision. Learn why treatment is so important and what to expect during and after your surgery.
A cataract is a term that describes the clouding of your own natural lens. Clouding happens when proteins inside the lens clump together, usually due to aging (and less commonly due to injury).
Normally crystal clear, the lens is located behind your pupil. When light passes through your pupil, your lens helps focus it on the light-sensitive retina at the back of your eye.
If you have a cataract, light doesn’t pass through the lens as easily. As a result, your vision will tend to be cloudy or blurry, you won’t see as well in low-light conditions, and colors might not appear as bright and distinct. You might also notice a lot of glare or halos around bright lights.
Cataracts don’t go away on their own. In fact, they almost always get worse. That means you can continue to see your vision degrade over time, and you’ll see a decline in your ability to do certain activities and a decrease in your quality of life.
Driving becomes problematic and dangerous, especially when it’s dark or cloudy outside. As your vision gets blurrier, it will become more difficult to read and do other close-up activities, like using a computer or even watching TV.
But there’s another reason why seeking treatment is important: Cataract surgery is a lot simpler and more straightforward than most people think. In fact, if it’s anxiety that’s holding you back from cataract surgery, consider this: Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery, and every year, roughly 4 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States and 20 million worldwide.
Cataract surgery is also associated with excellent results and high levels of patient satisfaction. Best of all, the procedure is quick — typically about 20-30 minutes — and so is recovery.
Cataract surgery is performed using local anesthetic to numb your eye, along with sedation when needed to help you relax. There’s no need for general anesthesia.
Once your eye is numb, your doctor makes a small incision to access the lens. Depending on the type of surgery being performed, the lens may be extracted whole or, more commonly, gently broken apart using a special instrument. Then, the lens pieces are extracted using suction.
After the lens is removed, the doctor inserts an artificial lens. This lens acts just like your eye’s natural lens, helping bend and focus light on your retina so you can see clearly again. Like your natural lens, you won’t be able to see or feel your artificial lens.
After surgery, you can expect some burning, itching, watering, and light sensitivity for a few days, and your vision will be somewhat blurry. We’ll provide you with special eye drops to soothe your eye and prevent inflammation or infection.
During the early stages of healing, you’ll wear a protective shield while you sleep to avoid pressing on the eye or rubbing it. Over the next few days, your vision will improve, with complete improvement within a few weeks.
The idea of having someone operate on your eye can certainly be nerve-racking. But cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that uses proven techniques and technology to restore your sight and offer great results.
To learn more about cataract treatment, contact the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today to request an appointment online or over the phone.
