Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Facts About Cataract Surgery San Antonio

By Eloise Hewitt


Cataract surgery is used in removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with artificial ones. Cataracts refer to the clouding of the lens which ideally should always be clear. Eye doctors or ophthalmologists are the specialists who perform the treatment. It is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that patients do not stay hospitalized after it is done. When considering cataract surgery San Antonio residents have to be conversant with all the details of this procedure. It is a generally safe procedure.

It reaches a level where the clouding makes it impossible for the individual to go about their daily duties, and it is at this time that they will be required to go for surgical operation. Further, at times the condition makes it difficult to treat other eye diseases or infections; hence it would have to be treated first. For instance, the doctor may need to examine the back part of the eye and not be able to do so because of the clouding.

The specific time to have the surgical operation is not that important. In fact, there are patients that take time before seeking treatment. This is because the conditions advances gradually and thus one is able to take time before making the decision to go for surgery. For persons whose vision is still good, treatment may not be necessary for several years. Treatment will be essential when it gets to a level whereby one is not able to see faces clearly, are not able to watch TV comfortably and cannot do such activities as shopping and cooking.

Despite the fact that any complications or risks are uncommon, it is possible that some may be experienced. Some of these include bleeding, swelling, loss of vision, inflammation and retinal detachment among others. There are certain instances in which other underlying conditions will prevent the surgery from improving vision. It is always advisable to treat other eye problems before deciding to treat cataracts.

Some preparation is required before the treatment. Some one week or so before the procedure, there is performance of ultrasound test which is painless. This is used to test the size and shape of the eye. This serves to help determine the right size of lens implants. Further, there are medications that the doctor will advise against. These are those that may increase bleeding during the surgical procedure.

For reduction of the risk of infection, there is the use of eye drops. These are used one or two days in prior. Moreover, there are times when the doctor advises against eating or drinking anything before the actual day. Being an outpatient procedure, it takes an hour or less to complete. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area in question. Sedatives are used for relaxation. Sedatives make the individual to remain awake but groggy during the surgical operation.

The lens that is clouded is removed and replaced with one that is artificial and clear. In some cases, a lens is removed without replacing it with a clear one. The improvement in vision is noticed a few days following treatment. Patients will be required to visit the doctor periodically after surgery.

For most people that go for the procedure, vision is restored successfully. Though there are side effects that may be experienced, these are rare and should be reported to the doctor at once. Among the expected complications is retinal detachment as well as increased eye pressure.




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