Cataract Surgery Today is Routine, Virtually Painless
by Drs. Bruce R. Cassidy, Robert W. Daly, William S. Holt, and Elizabeth G. Serrage
Impaired or failing eyesight doesn't always have to be a part of growing older. In particular, cataracts are a common vision problem associated with aging and are yielding to advances in medical science and microsurgery techniques.
Today, microsurgery advances have made cataract surgery quick and virtually painless, with a fast recovery and rapid improvement in eyesight.
Cataracts, which develop to some degree in nearly everyone by age 65, impair vision as the normally clear lens within the eye becomes progressively cloudier. Common symptoms include blurred vision, colors that seem dull or faded, problems with excessive glare, or the need for frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription. The only treatment for cataracts is surgical removal — a process that just a generation ago meant complicated surgery, overnight hospital stays and a long, often frustrating recovery period.
Today, however, thanks to advances in anesthesia and microsurgery techniques, cataract surgery is quick, virtually painless outpatient surgery (taking thirty minutes or less), with a quick recovery and rapid improvement in vision. Anesthesia can be done without needles. Instead, topical eye drops provide anesthesia for surgery. Moreover, modern cataract surgery — performed under a microscope — normally uses no stitches, relying instead on the natural pressure within the eye to seal the tiny incision used to remove the cataract. Microsurgical tools remove the cataract by liquefying it with sound waves and suctioning it out through the tiny incision. The same incision is then used for inserting a permanent intraocular lens implant to restore the focusing power of the eye. Innovations in lens implants make it possible to match implants with a variety of personal vision needs and lifestyles.
Most cataract patients experience improved vision immediately. With microsurgery techniques contributing to a quick recovery, the majority of patients can return to normal daily activities rapidly — typically the day after surgery. In fact, cataract surgery today is one of the most successful surgeries for patients, with 95% of surgeries resulting in improved vision. It is also one of the most common surgeries, with over 1.5 million cataract surgeries done each year in the U.S.
Only a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist can make a diagnosis of cataracts, and only after a comprehensive examination of your eyes. The best defense against cataracts and other eye diseases associated with aging, of course, is regular check-ups with your eye doctor — a prescription for clear, healthy eyesight for a lifetime.