 | | | | Medical Health Encyclopedia | | Because of the risks, albeit small ones, of poorer vision or blindness, no one should be forced to have cataract surgery if they don't want it or are not strong enough to undergo the procedure. If there are any doubts about whether or not to undergo cataract surgery, a second opinion should be considered. Questions for the Ophthalmologist
The patient should ask the ophthalmologist the following questions before agreeing to cataract surgery:
- Is my cataract surgery an emergency?
- Are the cataracts the only cause of my poor vision?
- How much experience do you have with this procedure?
- Do I have other eye diseases that might complicate surgery or reduce my benefit?
- Do I have other health problems that might further complicate eye surgery?
- Will you be able to implant an intraocular lens?
- What type of procedure will you use?
- Will I have to stay in the hospital overnight?
- Afterwards, what are my chances of having poorer vision or becoming totally blind in that eye?
- How well should I ultimately be able to see out of the operated eye?
- How long will it take to heal?
- How long will it take to achieve my best eyesight?
- Will I have to wear glasses or contact lenses after surgery?
- When will I get my final eyeglass prescription?
- How soon after surgery will I be able to see well enough to go back to work? Drive a car? Return to full activity?
- What will the surgery cost?
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Preparation for SurgeryText Continues Below
Cataract surgery is now usually done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia and takes less than an hour. Preoperative preparations may include: - Having a general physical examination is important for patients with medical problems such as diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels of the eye’s retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Recent research suggests that patients who have diabetic retinopathy and poor blood sugar control should not have their blood sugar rapidly corrected before cataract surgery. Correcting blood sugar too quickly before surgery can cause vision problems after surgery.
- The ophthalmologist will use a painless ultrasound test to measure the length of the eye and determine the type of replacement lens that will be needed after the operation.
- Topical application of so-called fluoroquinolone antibiotics (such as ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin) may be applied preoperatively to protect against postoperative infection.
- Most healthy patients are given either a local injection or topical anesthetic. The patients who report the least pain during the operation are those given a sedative followed by a local injection rather than just the topical drug.
- Some patients may require a general anesthetic, such those who are very anxious, those who are unable to cooperate with the surgeon, and those who are allergic to local anesthetics.
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