Cataract surgery is one of the most common and most successful surgical procedures performed where complications are very rare. Even the most common complications in cataract surgery are treatable and don't have a long-term impact on the vision. In the cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the cloudy natural lens of your eye (cataract) and replaces it with an intraocular lens. The clear thin membrane, i.e., the lens capsule, which surrounds the natural lens, is kept intact during the surgery. The intraocular lens is placed within this capsular pocket.
Most cataract operations are performed under Topical Anaesthesia which is administered via eyedrps, making it needleless, painless and quick. The whole procedure requires a short stay in the hospital for around 2-3 hours. To dilate the pupil, cataract patients need to have eye drops one hour before the surgery time. The cataract operation only takes 10-15 minutes to complete. The patient is kept in the hospital recovery area for observation for up to 1 hour after the surgery. All the information is given on how to care for the eye and the use of eye drops.
After the procedure, it is advised to bring a pair of protective glasses to wear to protect your eye from the dust and glare. Someone will need to drive the patient home. An eye pad will be placed over the eye which is usually removed in an hour post surgery.
Close follow-up care is taken after surgery to ensure that if the cataract patient has developed any postoperative complications which can be identified early to be treated effectively.
Always follow the surgeon's instructions on how to protect the eye and correctly use the prescribed eye drops. Antibiotic eye drops will prevent infection, and anti-inflammatory eye drops will help reduce any internal inflammation.
If you have cataracts and would like them assessed to restore your vision, please get in touch with the hospital for an appointment.
Kingsway Hospitals have an excellent team of ophthalmologists with years of experience equipped with the latest technology to safely and successfully treat their patients.