Cataract Surgery

What You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery

How does a growing cataract affect vision?

If you think are developing cataracts or told by an eye doctor that you are in the early stages of developing cataracts please do not panic. The development of a cataract is part of the natural aging process. There are some factors that may increase the early development of a cataract, but sooner or later this is a vision issue that most people have to deal with. As you may have learned from our page defining a cataract, a cataract is a clouding of the eyes natural lens to a point where vision is not clear. In today’s modern world of medical technology cataract surgery is no longer something to fear, in fact it is actually something to look forward to, like a new opportunity.

TECHNOLOGY NOTE: Cataract Surgery has made tremendous advancements over the last 20 years and Family Eye Center has one of Minnesota’s most experienced cataract surgeons right here in Willmar. If you are developing cataracts please contact us today so that we can discuss your future treatment options and provide you with the best vision possible after cataract surgery.

How will a cataract will affect your vision?

Protein deposits get clumpy inside your eye and when this protein starts to clump up, the natural lens of the eye gets cloudy and limits the amount of light that can reach the retina, (back of the eye, where images are processed). This cloudiness will eventually become significant enough to obstruct vision. As a cataract develops a patient’s vision get duller, less colorful and cloudy. It happens slowly so many people do not notice this right away.

Indications That You Might Have A Cataract Developing

• Vision gets cloudy like looking through wax paper
• Halos around lights
• The need for brighter lights and light sensitivity
• Double vision episodes
• Difficulty driving at night
• Colors start to fade toward brown
• Natural lens starts to get a yellowish color

Cataract Surgery

Once you have been diagnosed with cataracts you will need to meet with a certified ophthalmologist so that the cataract can be removed. We suggest meeting Family Eye Center’s cataract surgery staff and doctors for a complete eye health diagnosis and treatment suggestion.

Many cataract patients are often alarmed at the thought of surgery but the only way to get rid of a cataract is through removing it in surgery. At Family Eye Center you can rest assured that only the safest and best eye surgery methods will be practiced. You can read through all of the information in our website cataract center so that you are better informed before the surgical process.

Cataract Surgery Minnesota
The day of your cataract surgery

You will arrive at the surgery center in Willmar, Minnesota about an hour or two prior to your cataract surgery procedure. Once you have been checked in you may be offered a sedative to help you relax. You will then be prepared for surgery. The area around your eyes will be cleaned and a sterile drape may be applied around your eye.

Eye drops or a local anesthetic will be used to numb your eyes. When your eye is completely numb, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking during the procedure. Your eye will be completely numbed before the procedure.

An incision of 2.5 to 3 millimeters in length is then created at the junction of the cornea (the clear domed structure on the front of the eye) and the sclera (the white part of the eye).

Another dose of anesthetic is then administered inside the eye through this incision. The front part of the lens envelope, know as the lens capsule, is carefully opened so that the lens material can be removed. This is accomplished using a needle-like ultrasonic device, which pulverizes the hardened and yellowed lens proteins. The pulverized material is simultaneously vacuumed from the eye.

Once all of the cataract material has been removed, and assuming that the lens capsule which was opened at the beginning of the surgery remains strong enough to support the lens implant, a folded intraocular lens specifically chosen by the surgeon to suit your individual needs is then inserted through the original incision and maneuvered into the lens capsule and then centered. The lens will remain inside your eye in this location without moving. Intraocular lenses cannot be felt or sensed in any way by the patient.

The small incision is "self-sealing" and usually requires no stitches. The incision remains tightly closed by the natural outward pressure within the eye. This type of incision heals fast and provides a much more comfortable recuperation. Recovery from surgery is generally very quick, with most patients achieving noticeably better vision within the first 24 hours of the procedure. Patients are generally asked to use two different eye medications, administered as drops several times daily for the first few weeks after surgery. It is important that during the first 7 post-operative days patients refrain from strenuous activity such as lifting weights for exercise or lifting other heavy objects. Patients should also refrain from eye rubbing during the first few weeks following surgery.

After Cataract Surgery
What happens after surgery?

Itching and mild discomfort are normal after cataract surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. Your eye may be sensitive to light and touch. If you have discomfort, your doctor can suggest treatment. After one or two days, moderate discomfort should disappear.

For a few days after surgery, your doctor may ask you to use eye drops to help healing and decrease the risk of infection. Ask your doctor about how to use your eye drops, how often to use them, and what effects they can have. You will need to wear an eye shield or eyeglasses to help protect your eye. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye.

When you are home, try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor. Do not lift any heavy objects. You can walk, climb stairs, and do light household chores.

In most cases, healing will be complete within eight weeks. Your doctor will schedule exams to check on your progress.

History of Cataract Surgery

One of the most amazing medical breakthroughs has to be the development of phacoemulsification. The idea for phacoemulsification comes from nobody other than Charles Kelman, M.D. Stories report that he thought of this at his dentists office while having his teeth cleaned using an ultrasonic device. After years of working on this process phacoemulsification was introduced in 1967

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) named Dr. Kelman as one of the most influential ophthalmologists of the 20th century. He delivered the ASCRS Innovator's Lecture in 1985, the ASCRS Binkhorst Lecture in 1989, and was inducted into the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame in 1999.

What TO DO Next About My Cataracts?

If you are seeking cataract surgery in Minnesota, the eye doctors at the Family Eye Center can get you on the path to seeing better and seeing possibly without your previous level of dependency on glasses. The next step is to fillout a website contact form or call us directly to schedule a complete eye exam. For more information regarding the modern intraocular lens implants used by Dr. Fischer please see our page on premium lens implants including the multifocal IOL lens known as AcrySof® ReSTOR®  by Alcon Laboratories and the accommodating IOL implants known as Crystalens® by Bausch & Lomb.