Questions & Answers About the Cataract Surgical
Experience
By Dugald H.
Munro, MD
Q.) How long does
surgery take? A.) Most cataract surgeries take less than 30 minutes. You can
expect to be at the surgical facility for about three hours. After surgery, you
will have a light snack and a drink, and then you will be able to go home. Dr.
Munro will examine you in his office the next day.
Q.) Is a general
anesthetic used to put me to sleep for the surgery? A.) No. Local anesthetic
is used except on rare occasions. Only your eye is anesthetized, using numbing
medications. This is called topical anesthesia, and generally no
needle-anesthetic-injections are used. To relax you, sedatives are also
administrated.
Q.) Will I feel any pain during the surgery? A.) No.
The anesthesia is very effective so most people have no sensation of pain. In
the unlikely event that you feel discomfort during the surgery, please tell Dr.
Munro, so more numbing medications and sedatives can be given.
Q.) Can I
move or cough during surgery? A.) Yes. If it is necessary for you to cough,
sneeze, or move during the operation, let Dr. Munro know beforehand so he can
ensure that your sudden movement causes no harm. There will be a sterile
cloth drape over your face, but there will be plenty of air to breathe, because
a tube blowing oxygen is placed near your nose and mouth.
Q.) What
will my vision be like after surgery? A.) If there are no complications or
other medical eye problems to affect your vision, it should be very good. Quite
possibly, your vision may be as good or better than before you developed a
cataract. Colors may seem brighter and sharper than before surgery. Focusing
problems like nearsightedness and farsightedness are often largely corrected by
your new intraocular lens implant.
Q.) How long does the eye take to
recover from cataract and lens implant surgery? A.) Not long. Most people can
see reasonably well out of their operated eye the day after surgery. The vision
tends to steadily improve over the following few days and weeks.
Q.) How
soon after surgery can I participate in regular physical activities such as
work, sports, and driving? A.) Regular non-strenuous activities, including
most work, can be continued almost immediately in most cases. Strenuous
activity, such as moving or lifting heavy weights like furniture, should be
avoided for about four weeks. Bending over for short periods of time is not
harmful. Light activities, such as golf, walking, bowling, using exercise
machines, cooking and light housework can usually be resumed almost immediately.
No swimming is allowed for six weeks. It is okay to read, watch TV, and use your
eyes immediately after surgery. It is best to ask the Dr. Munro when you can
start driving after surgery. Most people can start driving again in a few
days.
Q.) Will my cataract ever grow back? A.) No. Once a cataract
is removed, it cannot grow back. However, a small percentage of those who have
cataract surgery develop what is called a secondary cataract. A secondary
cataract is not a real cataract but a "frosting over" of a membrane (capsule)
inside the eye. This causes blurred vision months or years after successful
cataract surgery. If this occurs, a brief office laser treatment can clear
this clouded membrane and clear the vision. Dr. Munro uses lens implants that
are designed to reduce the incidence of this membrane clouding. Q.) My other
eye also has a cataract. How soon can it be operated on? A.) If the cataract
in your second eye is affecting your vision, it can be operated on within weeks
of your first surgery. If the cataract has not developed enough to affect your
vision much, you can wait until it progresses to the point of affecting your
ability to see clearly. You can discuss these matters with Dr. Munro. Q.)
Where is the surgery done? A.) The surgery is performed at East Bay Surgery
Center. It is located in Swansea, MA near the Swansea Mall. Since it is
dedicated to eye surgery only, it has the most advanced eye surgical equipment
available and specialized personnel.
ARE THERE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS TO
CATARACT AND IMPLANT SURGERY?
Cataract surgery has a very high success
rate, however, as with any surgery, complications can occur. Most complications
can be solved without any permanent effects by means of medical treatment or
additional surgery. A low percentage of people experience major complications.
The rewards of cataract and lens implant surgery are numerous. Improved
vision, fewer glare problems, better depth perception, better color vision, and
better functioning in everyday activities are just some of the benefits of
cataract surgery.
There is a slight chance that a serious complication
could result in permanent vision loss, other problems, or blindness in the
operated eye.
Dr. Munro will discuss with you the benefits and risks of
cataract and intraocular lens implant surgery.
CAN I HAVE CATARACT
SURGERY IF I HAVE A CATARACT BUT THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH MY
EYE?
Yes, in most cases. Common reasons for blurred vision, other that
cataract, are diabtic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Even with such other preexisting conditions, cataract surgery is
worthwhile if the cataract is significantly advanced. After successful cataract
surgery, the vision, while being limited by the other condition, should be
improved.
In preparation for surgery, Dr. Munro comprehensively examines
your eyes. Before surgery, he will tell you if you have any eye problems other
than cataract.
Questions & Answers About Cataracts
By Dugald H.
Munro, MD
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ABOUT CATARACTS
Q.) What is a cataract? A.) A cataract is a
cloudiness that develops in the naturally clear lens of the eye. This cloudiness
generally increases over a period of time until light is blocked from entering
the eye and vision becomes impaired. A cataract is a cloud that forms in the
normally clear lens of the eye
Q.) Are cataracts common? A.) Yes.
Cataracts are very common, and nearly everyone will develop them as as they
become older.
Q.) What causes cataracts? A.) Different types of
cataracts are caused by different factors: Age related cataracts are caused
by natural changes that take place in the eye during the aging process. Heredity
determines when these cataracts will develop. Traumatic cataracts are caused
by serious injuries to the eye like hard blows and deep cuts. Congenital
cataracts are caused by abnormal prenatal conditions in the eyes of unborn
babies. Other causes: specific diseases, too much exposure to ultraviolet
light, radiation, toxic chemicals, smoking, excessive drinking, and some
medications.
Q.) What are the symptoms of developing cataracts? A.)
Cataracts can develop quickly, but usually they develop gradually over a period
of several years. Since there is no pain, the initial changes may not be
recognized. Cataracts can eventually cause a total clouding that results in
blindness. A person with developing cataracts will experience some of these
symptoms:
* Halos or glare from lights, or disturbing brightness from
lights * Difficulty distinguishing colors * An increasing need for more
light to see clearly * Decreased vision * Double vision * A stage where
it is easier to see without glasses than with them * Frequent changes of
glasses strength * Difficulty driving at night due to glare Experiencing
some of these conditions does not necessarily indicate the presence of a
cataract. Other eye disorders can create similar visual defects. A thorough eye
examination by a qualified doctor is necessary to accurately determine the
specific cause of all visual problems.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT
CATARACT SURGERY
Q.) Is a laser used to remove my cataract? A.) No.
Some people are under the false impression that cataracts are removed with a
laser. This is not the case. A laser, which is a beam of light of a particular
color, cannot be used to remove a cataract or insert a lens implant. Cataracts
are removed by surgery. However, office laser treatment may be needed months or
years following a cataract operation to clear a cloud that sometimes develops
inside the eye.
Q.) What type of Surgery does Dr. Munro
perform?
A.) In most cases, Dr. Munro does what is considered advanced
cataract surgery which is phacoemulsification through a clear corneal incision.
His technique also includes:
* Topical anesthesia used: no injection
needles are necessary in most cases. * Small incision. * No stitches
required * Surgery to correct astigmatism can be done, This can reduce the
dependency on eye glasses after surgery. This is not covered by health
insurance. Please ask us about if interested.
* No patch
required.
Q.) Does my cataract need to be "ripe" before it can
be removed?
A.) No. Before the current methods of cataract surgery
were developed, cataracts had to be extremely advanced, causing very blurred
vision, in order to be removed. This long period of blurred vision is not
necessary with advanced surgical techniques.
Q.) When should
cataract surgery be done?
A.) It is now possible to remove a cataract as
soon as it starts to interfere with your ability to see clearly. You should
consider having cataract surgery when blurred vision starts to interfere with
everyday activities.
On the other hand, you may choose to live with the
blurred vision caused by cataracts. It is usually okay to wait until the blurred
vision and cataract get worse before deciding to have cataract surgery. In
deciding when the time is right to have cataract surgery, keep the following
facts in mind:
* If a cataract becomes too ripe, it can swell and cause
serious problems such as inflammation or glaucoma, but this situation is
unusual.
* Surgery on an overly-ripe cataract is somewhat more difficult
to perform. However, surgery can usually be done successfully even at a late
stage of cataract development.
* It is common for people to adapt to
decreased vision caused by cataracts and not be aware their vision is blurred.
This is because cataracts usually take years to develop so people may not
remember the good quality of vision they had before the cataract. These people
are surprised when they do not pass the eye test at the Registry of Motor
Vehicles
Q.) Does Dr. Munro accept Medicare and other health
insurance? A.) Dr. Munro is a participating Medicare physician and accepts
Medicare and coinsurance for cataract and implant surgery. He also participates
with most other health insurance plans.
