Catarct surgery?

Question

Hi

my mom is going to have a cataract operation and she has some doubts about going through with it.I Just wanted to ask is the surgery painful and what are the risks of having a unsuccessful operation and can the operation cause blindness

Answer 1

I've had cataract surgery in both eyes.  Speaking from my experience, the surgery is absolutely not painful.  They give you a general anesthetic, but I think it's just so that you don't panic and jump up off the table.  She will be able to be up and around right away, but she should rest.  My cab was late showing up, so I walked back to my hotel about an hour after surgery, although this was not recommended.  There was no bandage, except to protect the eye while sleeping.

These are very commonly performed operations, and the risks are very low.  My main concern would be getting a good eye measurement so that you end up with the right distance/near vision.  They will do one eye at a time in case of some unforeseen difficulty.

She should be aware that she will lose the ability to focus on varying distances so that she will probably need reading glasses.  But probably, depending on her age, this is already true.  If her eyesight is a big problem for her, she should go ahead and have the operation, but if not, she could wait a couple of years, since there are new lenses coming out.  I had a newer lens put in that gives me some ability to focus, but this lens is still in clinical trials.  Not a really big deal though, since she's probably already used to reading glasses.

She will be excited about the renewed clarity and color of her vision.  The operation is nothing.

Answer 2

Don't worry. It is a very common form of surgery, required by most people when they get into their sixties. She will not feel a thing but will be out of operation for a day or so with a bandage over her eyes. Then whe will wonder why in the world did she wait so long, her sight will be so much better.

The Dr. Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia is a charitable organisation which is carrying out such operations for native peoples in Africa with 100 percent success ratings.

Answer 3

Hi,

    With the technology available today, cataract surgery is very simple to perform and virtually painless.  In fact, if she has no diabetes, hypertension, then she may be given a discharge from the hospital the same or the very next day.  This also depends on the technology available in your city with your surgeon.  Can you let me know her age, present and past medical condition and the place where you stay for me to advise you better.  

Best Wishes

Answer 4

Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed operations in the U.S. now.  Current technology allows for most cataract surgeries to be performed through an extremely small incision, and there is usually only mild if any discomfort.  

Like any surgery, there are certain risks, but the vast majority of patients undergoing cataract surgery have much better vision after surgery.  As far as the risks, there is a very low risk of infection (which makes using the post-op eye drops especially important).  There is also the risk of over- or under-correction with the artificial lens that is placed in the eye.  There are other rare complications, but your eye surgeon should discuss those as it depends somewhat on the technique and extent of her cataract.

Unless she is paying extra for a multifocal lens implant, your mom should be aware that she will need reading glasses after the surgery to focus on things up close.

Hope this helps.