The bad news is that the only way to cure cataracts is getting them surgically removed. The good news is that before cataracts significantly impact your daily life, their symptoms can be mediated with eyeglasses and contacts. Advanced Family Eye Care in St. Joseph, South Haven, Benton Harbor, and Stevensville, MI, lists what you need to know about cataract surgery.
Symptoms of Cataracts
See your eye doctor or optometrist if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Blurry vision, including blurriness that worsens nearsightedness
- Inability to drive at night because lights are too blinding
- Cloudy vision
- Double vision
- Colors appear lighter or are tainted in yellow
- Lights appear to have rings or halos about them
- Normal levels of light suddenly become too painful
- Even though light hurts, more light is needed to do ordinary tasks like reading
What Cataract Surgery Is Like
You may have the surgery in a hospital or an eye clinic. You do not need to stay overnight. Only one eye is operated on, even if you have cataracts in both eyes. Your eyeball is numbed. You are sedated, but are still conscious. You sit up and your eye is operated on. Your cloudy old lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens. You get a protective cup taped over your eye. You wait in a room to recover. Because of the sedation, you need to have someone else drive you home.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
These are the main things you need to do before cataract surgery:
- You’ll need an eye exam before your surgery to measure you for your new artificial lens
- You’ll also be assessed to see if you are healthy enough for surgery
- You’ll need to arrange rides
- You’ll need to fast overnight, or for about 12 hours before surgerty
Aftercare Tips
You’ll get a long list of instructions after your surgery, but the main instructions are:
- Visit your eye doctor the next day to make sure all went well with the surgery. You will not be able to drive, so you will have to arrange a ride.
- Try not to do any strenuous activity, like picking up anything heavy.
- Try not to bend over, as this could damage your eye before it has a chance to heal.
- Do not use any pools, hot tubs or Jacuzzis.
- Do not rub your eye, even though you may really want to.
- Use the medicated eye drops as instructed.
- You will probably not be able to return to work the day after surgery, but should after three days.
Do You Have Cataracts?
If you think you have cataracts and live in the St. Joseph, South Haven, Benton Harbor, or Stevensville, MI, areas, contact Advanced Family Eye Care at (844) 398-4022 to make an appointment today.