BackCataracts and Today's Modern Surgery
Article submitted by John D. Kirk, M.D., F.A.C.S., Kirk Eye Center.
For more information, he can be reached at 970-669-1107.
Remember when your parents or grandparents had to go to the hospital for the dreaded cataract surgery? They were kept in the hospital sometimes for a week or more with sandbags holding their heads still. They had to endure shots to the eye area, stitches in the eye, and wear an eye patch. They had to be extremely careful for days and not bend over, lift, or strain in any way. Thankfully, those days are a thing of the past! Today, people have cataract surgery and are back to their normal activities almost immediately.
Cataracts occur as a natural aging process of the eye, although this can occur in some people as young as 30-40. It is simply the lens of the eye becoming cloudy. The remedy is to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear one. The surgery performed on the 101-year-old is as successful as the surgery performed on the 35-year-old. Today's surgeries are done on an outpatient basis with no shots, no stitches, and no eye patch. Gone are the days of sandbags and hospital stays. Imagine being able to go out to breakfast immediately after surgery. Imagine playing golf or going back to work within days. These things, and more, are possible with today's state-of-the art cataract surgery.
The surgery itself takes about 10 minutes to complete, and you are on your way quickly, with only some drops to use for several weeks. After the first eye is done, and all has gone well, the second eye's surgery can follow within a week or two.
Remember, if you are experiencing difficulty with your vision, such as glare, double vision, inability to read road signs, or you just feel your vision is fading, don't be concerned that you are doomed to poor eyesight. If these symptoms are caused by cataracts, they can be improved with today's advanced cataract surgery. If you or your loved ones are experiencing difficulty with vision, it may be due to cataracts. See your ophthalmologist today and find out whether your vision can be improved.