Statistics indicate that cataract is the leading cause of both congenital and acquired visual impairment. This condition occurs when a cloudy substance accumulates within the eye lens due to one reason or the other. Fetuses that have been subjected to chemical or physical trauma may present with the problem at birth. Before signing up for cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to know a number of important things beforehand.
There are several conditions that may mimic cataract making it vital for one to be thoroughly examined by an eye specialist before the diagnosis can be ascertained. The entire eye is examined for the presence of infections and other inflammatory conditions such as glaucoma. Once these have been ruled out, the client has to be evaluated for their suitability as a candidate for surgery.
A candidate that meets the set criteria is first taken through the preparation process. This entails both psychological counseling and physical preparation. The most commonly used (and effective) surgical technique is what is known as phacoemulsification. To minimize discomfort as surgery is taking place, local anesthesia is used. What this means is that one remains awake as the process takes place.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
Depending on how advanced the condition is, the lens may be removed in its entirety or it may be cleaned and returned to its position. If replacement is to be done, an artificial intraocular lens is used. Artificial lenses are made of materials such as plastic, silicone and acrylic. They placement requires that prescription glasses be prescribed as well because they have no ability to undergo accommodation changes.
There are very few risks associated with this kind of operation. In general 98% of the surgeries are uneventful. Possible short term complications include excessive bleeding, swelling of the eye and infections. Complications are likely to affect eyes that had pre-existing problems. It is for this reason that through screening should be done before one undergoes surgery. Antibiotics and steroid eye drops should also be given routinely to all persons undergoing the operations.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Note that cataract may recur in some cases after some years. The recurrent condition is also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO. It comes about when the cloudy substance re-accumulates just behind the lens that has been replaced. Capsulotomy is an operation that is performed to correct this abnormality. It is a shorter procedure than the initial operation.
There are several conditions that may mimic cataract making it vital for one to be thoroughly examined by an eye specialist before the diagnosis can be ascertained. The entire eye is examined for the presence of infections and other inflammatory conditions such as glaucoma. Once these have been ruled out, the client has to be evaluated for their suitability as a candidate for surgery.
A candidate that meets the set criteria is first taken through the preparation process. This entails both psychological counseling and physical preparation. The most commonly used (and effective) surgical technique is what is known as phacoemulsification. To minimize discomfort as surgery is taking place, local anesthesia is used. What this means is that one remains awake as the process takes place.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision is made on the anterior part of the eyeball (the cornea) just in front of the lens. The incision is used for the removal of the lens and replacement with a new one. On most occasions, the lens is found hardened by disease and has to be broken down using an ultrasound probe into smaller pieces.
Depending on how advanced the condition is, the lens may be removed in its entirety or it may be cleaned and returned to its position. If replacement is to be done, an artificial intraocular lens is used. Artificial lenses are made of materials such as plastic, silicone and acrylic. They placement requires that prescription glasses be prescribed as well because they have no ability to undergo accommodation changes.
There are very few risks associated with this kind of operation. In general 98% of the surgeries are uneventful. Possible short term complications include excessive bleeding, swelling of the eye and infections. Complications are likely to affect eyes that had pre-existing problems. It is for this reason that through screening should be done before one undergoes surgery. Antibiotics and steroid eye drops should also be given routinely to all persons undergoing the operations.
The operation itself is quite straightforward and takes an average of one hour to be completed. Patients are usually released from hospital on the very day that they are operated on. Improvement in visual acuity is almost immediate and further improvements are seen in subsequent days and weeks. The optimal effect will be evident after about two months. Precautions should be taken after surgery to avoid causing injury to the eye.
Note that cataract may recur in some cases after some years. The recurrent condition is also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO. It comes about when the cloudy substance re-accumulates just behind the lens that has been replaced. Capsulotomy is an operation that is performed to correct this abnormality. It is a shorter procedure than the initial operation.
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