Cataract Surgery

One of the most common outpatient surgeries in the United States, cataract surgery can be done in 30 minutes or less – without requiring stitches. Broberg Eye Care uses state-of the-art equipment and techniques to ensure every patient has a comfortable experience.

What is a cataract?

Over time, the lens of our eye can become cloudy, preventing light rays from passing clearly through the lens. The loss of transparency may be so mild that vision is barely affected, or it can be so severe that no shapes or movements are seen—only light and dark. When the lens becomes cloudy enough to obstruct vision to any significant degree, it is called a cataract. Eyeglasses or contact lenses can usually correct slight refractive errors caused by early cataracts, but they cannot sharpen your vision if a severe cataract is present.

The most common cause of cataract is aging. Other causes include trauma, medications such as steroids, systemic diseases such as diabetes, and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. Occasionally, babies are born with a cataract.

Cataracts typically develop slowly and progressively, causing a gradual and painless decrease in vision. Other changes you might experience include blurry vision, glare (particularly at night), frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription, a decrease in color intensity, a yellowing of images, and in rare cases, double vision.

As the eye’s natural lens gets harder, farsighted (presbyopic) people, who have difficulty focusing
up close, can experience improved near vision and become less dependent on reading glasses. However, nearsighted (myopic) people become more nearsighted, causing a worsening in their distance vision. Some kinds of cataracts affect distance vision more than reading vision. Others affect reading vision more than distance vision.

Reducing your exposure to ultraviolet light by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses may reduce your risk for developing a cataract, but once one has developed, there is no cure except to have the cataract surgically removed.

Who is a candidate for cataract surgery?

Often times, an eye care professional can detect early cataract development during a
routine eye exam, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms. At this point, they can be
safely monitored without treatment until you begin to notice changes in your vision.

Sometimes, you may discover these symptoms on your own. If you experience blurry or
clouded vision, faded or dull color vision, sensitivity to light, or difficulty with night
driving, you may be a candidate for this type of surgery.

Cataract surgery is recommended for most individuals who experience these symptoms.
However, if you have an eye disease that impairs your vision and is unrelated to
cataracts, your doctor may not recommend surgery.

You may also be a candidate for cataract surgery if you’ve experienced trauma to your
eye. Trauma may make it difficult for your eye doctor to see the retina in the
back of your eye, thus making it necessary to remove the cataract so you can have further
treatment.

Is cataract surgery painful?

The surgery is typically a painless experience. Those who undergo the procedure will be
given local anesthesia to help them relax. Commonly there are no needles or injections used on the eye, so most patients don’t experience bruising or bleeding.

With a routine outpatient surgical procedure, an ophthalmologist can remove the cataract making either a small incision (phacoemulsification) or a larger incision (extracapsular extraction). Usually, a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted at the time of cataract extraction to replace the focusing power of the natural lens. IOLs can be monovision (fixed-focus for a preset distance) or multifocal, which allows focused vision at many distances. The time to have cataract surgery is when the cataract is affecting your vision enough to interfere with your normal lifestyle.

What are the side effects, if any?

Cataract surgery is a very successful operation. One and a half million people have this procedure every year in the United States, and 99% have a successful result. As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur during or after surgery and some are severe enough to limit vision. But in most cases, vision and quality of life are improved.

Do I need to do anything before the procedure?

To prepare for surgery, you may be asked to do some of the following. These vary by
patient and your doctor will instruct you of these prior to surgery.

Undergo tests – Prior to surgery, you’ll be asked to undergo measurements of your eyes using a laser measuring device. This painless 5 minute procedure determines the size and shape of your eye to help determine the right type of lens implant.

Use eye drops – Taking antibiotic drops one to two days before surgery can help reduce the risk of infection.

Fasting – Patients are asked to fast for 12 hours before surgery.

Stop taking certain medications – Some medications can increase the risk of complications, especially medicines used for prostate disease. Please tell your doctor if you take medicines for prostate disease.

How long will the surgery take?

The average surgery is about 20 to 30 minutes long.

Are your doctors certified to perform this procedure?

All of our physicians are Board Certified to perform cataract surgery.

How long does recovery take?

Recovery from cataract surgery is short, and full healing usually occurs within 2-6 weeks from the day of the procedure. Most patients will see an improvement in their vision instantly.

The day after surgery, it’s possible your vision will be a bit blurred from ointments and swelling associated with the surgery, but this will progressively improve over the next few days.

During the recovery period, you’ll have follow-up visits to the clinic to ensure your eye is healing properly. These typically occur 1 day, 1 week, and 1-2 months after surgery.

It’s also recommended that patients use their prescribed eye drops regularly, as well as sunglasses when in the presence of bright sunlight for about 1-2 weeks. At one month after surgery, the eye is typically healed and ready for refraction for new glasses, should they be needed.

Call Broberg Eye Care at (512) 447-6096 for more information, or to set up an appointment to talk with one of our doctors.