Cataracts are a familiar ailment that affects many people as they grow older. They progress slowly and the lens of the eye becomes cloudy so that one cannot see well. Although cataracts may initially cause minor discomforts, they can become worse with time and interfere with your vision considerably and your life. Fortunately, cataract surgery is a proven, safe and efficient procedure that will help improve your vision and maintain the health of your eyes.
Now, let’s try to understand why cataract surgery is so crucial and how it can improve your quality of life.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts occur when a normally transparent lens in the eye turns opaque. This can be for various causes but the most frequent one is old age. Some of the other causes include; If any of your family members have cataracts, if you have diabetes, if you smoke, if you take alcohol in excess or if you work under direct sunlight.
Symptoms of cataracts include:
- Blurry or dim vision.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
- Photophobia, that is the ability to become sensitive to bright lights or glare.
- Colours that seem to be less bright than usual.
- Seeing halos around lights.
- Constant switch of frames of prescription glasses.
If left without treatment, cataracts can severely affect your vision and you may find it difficult to read, drive or even recognize people’s faces.
How Cataracts Impact Your Eye Health
Cataract not only hazy vision but also impacts the health of the eyes if it is not treated. Often squinting your eyes to have a clearer vision often causes one to have frequent headaches and feel drained most of the time. When the cataracts advance, your vision gets so poor that even simple activities become perilous or impossible, further raising the chances of falls and accidents.
The untreated cataracts can also cause additional problems like inflammation of the eye, increase in the fluid pressure in the eye or even blindness in the extreme cases. If you act early enough to treat cataracts, then you can avoid these risks and also save your eyesight.
Why Cataract Surgery Is Essential
Cataract surgery is the only cure for cataracts. It is an outpatient procedure in which the hazy lens is replaced with an artificial clear lens. Today, eye care has come a long way, and cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical operations in the present age.
Laser-assisted technologies and premium lens choices are available for cataract surgery to meet your requirements. These innovations guarantee accuracy and a short recovery period so that you can get back your sight and feel comfortable.
The Life-Changing Benefits of Cataract Surgery
Surgery for cataract has a positive impact not only on the patient’s vision but also his or her overall wellbeing. Here are some of the ways it can enhance your life:
- Clearer Vision: Read better, watch the beauty of the world with a new perspective, and appreciate the details of objects and nature.
- Improved Quality of Life: Recover from fear to perform tasks such as cooking, driving, or engaging in hobbies, and other routine tasks.
- Enhanced Safety: Good vision helps prevent fall and accidents especially during the night and during situations that require good vision.
- Increased Independence: You won’t need to delegate work that requires good vision, which will be an added advantage.
- Better Eye Health: Cataract surgery also involves the elimination of the cloudy lens, and if required, other eye problems can also be corrected.
Most patients report that the outcomes are transformative and some patients have said that they feel like their new set of eyes.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
Preparation is always an essential component that would guarantee the achievement of a specific goal. Your journey starts with an eye check-up to ascertain the problem and chart out the most appropriate procedure for you. Your doctor will briefly explain the procedure and address your concerns and select the most appropriate lens for your way of life.
Many people have what they call cataract surgery and there is no reason to be anxious about it. It is a common procedure and your doctor will offer advice and recommendations on how to make it as easy as possible.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes approximately 30 minutes or less. It is done under local anaesthesia so you will be awake but you will not feel any pain. Here’s what to expect:
- The surgeon incises the eye by making a very small cut on the surface of the eye.
- The cloudy lens is gently peeled off.
- The natural lens is replaced by a transparent, artificial one.
You will be bedridden for some time after the operation before you are discharged from the hospital. It takes a few days for most patients to see a dramatic change in their vision, though complete restoration may take up to a few weeks.
Recovering from Cataract Surgery
There is usually no problem in recovery and it is quite easy. Your doctor will advise you on the correct ways of taking care of your eyes, including the use of eye drops and the need to avoid exerting yourself for a while. Subsequent visits will check whether your eyes are healing as they should, and whether your vision is improving.
Some symptoms are quite common in the first days after the tattoo, including slight itching or sensitivity to light. These symptoms are usually temporary and you are left with clear and sharp vision.
The Proven Success of Cataract Surgery
The cataract surgery has a high success rate of over 95% of the patients who undergo the surgery have their vision improved. The results are as accurate as the technology used in the process and the risks involved are low. No matter if it is day, night, or you are reading something, driving a car, or watching a beautiful sunset, being able to see again is priceless.
Eye care: Cataracts are normal in the elderly but that does not mean that one has to sit at home and do nothing about it. Cataract is therefore treatable through surgery, and the procedure is safe for your eyes and your vision. If you take care of cataracts before they worsen, you can avoid the problems and lead a happier, active life.
If you have any of the symptoms of cataracts do not wait any longer. Please come to The Eye Foundation for you to be attended by our professional staff. Become the better you with just one step to a clearer vision and a better quality life. Book your appointment
