Cataract Surgery

CATARACT SURGERY: SEE MORE CLEARLY

Cataract surgery is one of the most gratifying procedures that I perform because patients tell me it makes a night and day difference in their lives.

Most cataracts are a very natural part of aging. Initially when we are born, the lens of the eye starts out clear. Around the age of 40, cataract formation begins to slowly occur. The proteins in the natural lens undergo structural changes and begin to clump together. Gradually, the proteins congregate and cause cloudiness to your lens, known as a cataract. Over a period of many years, the cataract will cloud more of the lens.

Since cataracts are progressive, the symptoms tend to be gradual. People may notice that colors look faded, blurry vision at distance or near, glare or halos around lights, requiring more light to read, and difficulty driving at night.

If you notice these symptoms, it’s best to have your eyes evaluated by an eye specialist such as an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. In fact, annual eye exams are recommended to evaluate the overall health of the eye, as there are many systemic conditions that can manifest in the eye. We can check for cataracts during a dilated eye exam. We use eye drops to dilate or widen your pupil so we can do a detailed full examination of the eye.

If your cataracts start affecting your daily activities like reading, driving, and screen time, you will want to mention these symptoms to your eye specialist. If you are seeing an optometrist, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist who can further assess if you are a good candidate for cataract surgery. That’s why it’s important to maintain regular eye examinations with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. They will monitor your cataract progression and will discuss the appropriate time for your cataract surgery as every cataract grows at a different rate.

Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed procedure worldwide! We remove the eye’s clouded lens – the cataract – and replace it with an artificial lens that is catered towards your eye measurements to restore clear vision.

The surgery is performed as outpatient surgery, meaning you will be able to return home the same day the surgery is performed. It generally takes less than 30 minutes to perform. The majority of patients receive light sedation through an IV. The sedation helps calm anxiety and puts patients in a twilight zone. Patients are sleepy while still being awake and responsive. While in the operating room, patients focus on a bright light up ahead. Many patients describe it as a “light show” as they see different shades of lights at various times during the surgery.

In the first 2 weeks following surgery, patients are to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity, bending at the waist and swimming. Patients are prescribed eye drops for 4 weeks to help with inflammation and the healing process. It usually takes 4 weeks to recover from cataract surgery; however vision is significantly improved within the first week after surgery.

Throughout recovery, we follow up with our patients starting with a day 1 post-op appointment. Often we will see patients 2 weeks later if they are planning on cataract surgery for their other eye. At 4 weeks, patients come in for a final post-op visit and a dilated eye exam.

At these visits, patients often say they saw an improvement in color contrast sensitivity right away. Contrast sensitivity is the ability to see the difference between two similar colors or shades of gray. Patients have even told me they never realized how much dust was on their countertops or how they picked the wrong color paint prior to surgery. The trick is to not redecorate the house until after cataract surgery! ■

PAULINE CHEN, DO OPHTHALMOLOGIST MANKATO CLINIC

EXPERT ADVICE

PAULINE CHEN, DO OPHTHALMOLOGIST MANKATO CLINIC

I encourage people to take good care of their eyes to help delay cataracts. One of the best ways is to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim to protect your eyes. Be tobacco free as smoking cigarettes puts people at greater risk for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Eat healthy – lots of fruits, veggies and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. And get an annual eye exam.

To learn more, visit mankatoclinic.com/specialties/eye-care-center