Cataracts FAQ

What is a cataract?

The lens in your eye should be crystal clear. If it becomes cloudy or discolored it is called a cataract. A cataract is not a growth or tumor, Cataracts do not cause itching, redness, or discomfort in your eye. Cataracts simply decrease the brightness and clarity of your vision.

Do I have a cataract?

Are you having difficulty seeing green traffic lights or reading road signs? Are you less sure of yourself when you drive? Does the printing on newspapers or medicine labels seem fuzzy or blurred? Are you having trouble recognizing people across a room or trouble seeing the television clearly? DO you stumble more often and worry that you may fall and break a bone? Are you worried about becoming more dependent upon family and friends because of poor vision? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, you may have a cataract.

When should cataract surgery be performed?

Cataract surgery is advisable when the cataract begins to interfere with one’s normal activities. The development of a cataract is not, in itself an indication that surgery is required. Cataract surgery is not an emergency. After a thorough eye examination and several tests, your doctor will discuss with you the need for cataract surgery. When it is decided the time is right for cataract surgery, the operation will be scheduled and performed at your convenience. The decision to have surgery is, of course, ultimately the patient’s decision.

What should I do to prepare for surgery?

Our staff will give you instructions on what you need to do before the date of your surgery. You will need to have a full evaluation by your medical doctor as well as certain blood tests and other tests. You will also be scheduled to see your eye doctor to obtain written consent for the operation, discuss the surgery including risks and benefits in detail, and answer any last minute questions.

What is the surgical procedure like?

Most patients can now have their procedure done without staying overnight in a hospital. On the scheduled day, you will be admitted to a hospital’s Day Surgery Unit. You will be given eye drops and possibly a mild sedative to help you relax. The surgery can be done under general anesthesia or more commonly local anesthesia, but either way, you should experience no discomfort during the surgery. The cataract is gently removed using an operating microscope and specialized delicate instruments.

How quickly will I recover?

Recovery from modern cataract surgery is usually relatively rapid. Most patients require little or no pain medication after surgery. You will be allowed to resume many of your normal activities the day following surgery and should quickly resume all activities within the next several weeks.

Your vision will improve as your eye heals. You may be able to see quite well almost immediately, or you may need several weeks for healing. You will heal at your own rate. Once your eye has recovered, you may need glasses to fine-tune your vision.

Will I be able to see without my natural lens?

Since cataract surgery involves the removal of the eye’s focusing lens, a replacement lens must be present to see well after surgery. The three possible substitutes for the removed cloudy lens (i.e., cataract) are cataract glasses, contact lenses, and intraocular lens implants. The most natural way to restore vision is to insert an intraocular lens implant.

Do you use lasers to perform cataract surgery?

Contrary to popular opinion, cataracts cannot be removed with a laser. By the same token, there is no drop or pill which can remove a cataract. The only way to remove a cataract is through cataract surgery. Lasers are used, however, to treat after cataracts or second cataracts. A part of the lens, the capsule, is left in place during cataract surgery to support the intraocular lens implant. Months or years after the original surgery the capsule may become cloudy. This is called an after cataract. A YAG laser can open the cloudy capsule to allow a clear path for light entering the eye, restoring sharp vision.