One of the leading causes of blindness all over the world is cataract. This problem has the highest prevalence among the elderly in whom it occurs largely as a natural ageing process. It may also be seen in newborns at birth. Persons affected usually have a clouding of their eye lens that obscure their vision. Fortunately, the problem can be corrected through a surgical operation. There are some important things relating to Cataract surgery Los Angeles residents need to know.
The aim of the surgery is to remove the clouded eye lens and clean or to replace it in its entirety with an artificial one. The latter option is the more common of the two procedures. The main technique that is employed in the operation is known as phacoemulsification (or incision cataract surgery). By making a small cut (incision in the lens), the hardened center is liquefied and vacuumed out.
The operation is usually performed in the office and one will not ordinarily require an admission to hospital. It typically lasts between 30minutes to one hour. Local anesthesia in the form of droplets or a few injections into the eyelids will help numb the pain. What this means is that you will be awake during the entire procedure. General anesthesia, in which one has to be completely unconscious, is rarely needed here.
There are a number of trends that exist in these operations. Among them is the use of laser in operating. The laser is being used for creating the incision on the cornea and is being considered as a replacement of the surgical blade. This is because it gives more precise margins when used. The other use of the laser is in the breaking down of the hardened lens center, a task that has traditionally been performed by an ultrasound probe.
During the preoperative preparation, there are a number of things that have to be done. One of them is to confirm that the diagnosis is indeed glaucoma and not any other illness presenting in similar fashion. The other thing that the surgeon will do is to measure your intraocular pressure. A high intraocular pressure significantly reduces the chances of success. The pressure has to be controlled first before the operation is performed.
In general, this operation is safe. In rare circumstances, bleeding and infections may be encountered but these are usually quite easy to manage. Perhaps the most significant complication is a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO is recurrent cloudiness of the replaced lens which effectively results in blindness. Corrective surgery by laser is needed in such cases.
You will realize the benefits of the surgery within hours to days. Maximum improvement will be noted within a couple of weeks and will require glasses to be realized. Some of the specific benefits include increased visual acuity, better perception of light and differentiation of different colors. Eye drops to be used for two or three days are usually prescribed by the doctor.
One must note that it is not all cases of cataract that are operated. Patients who have cloudiness that only affects their vision to a small extent usually do not require the operation. The ideal patients are those that have severe impairment of vision and a reduced quality of life as a result of the problem. If both eyes are affected, the surgeries are conducted within a few weeks of each other.
The aim of the surgery is to remove the clouded eye lens and clean or to replace it in its entirety with an artificial one. The latter option is the more common of the two procedures. The main technique that is employed in the operation is known as phacoemulsification (or incision cataract surgery). By making a small cut (incision in the lens), the hardened center is liquefied and vacuumed out.
The operation is usually performed in the office and one will not ordinarily require an admission to hospital. It typically lasts between 30minutes to one hour. Local anesthesia in the form of droplets or a few injections into the eyelids will help numb the pain. What this means is that you will be awake during the entire procedure. General anesthesia, in which one has to be completely unconscious, is rarely needed here.
There are a number of trends that exist in these operations. Among them is the use of laser in operating. The laser is being used for creating the incision on the cornea and is being considered as a replacement of the surgical blade. This is because it gives more precise margins when used. The other use of the laser is in the breaking down of the hardened lens center, a task that has traditionally been performed by an ultrasound probe.
During the preoperative preparation, there are a number of things that have to be done. One of them is to confirm that the diagnosis is indeed glaucoma and not any other illness presenting in similar fashion. The other thing that the surgeon will do is to measure your intraocular pressure. A high intraocular pressure significantly reduces the chances of success. The pressure has to be controlled first before the operation is performed.
In general, this operation is safe. In rare circumstances, bleeding and infections may be encountered but these are usually quite easy to manage. Perhaps the most significant complication is a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO is recurrent cloudiness of the replaced lens which effectively results in blindness. Corrective surgery by laser is needed in such cases.
You will realize the benefits of the surgery within hours to days. Maximum improvement will be noted within a couple of weeks and will require glasses to be realized. Some of the specific benefits include increased visual acuity, better perception of light and differentiation of different colors. Eye drops to be used for two or three days are usually prescribed by the doctor.
One must note that it is not all cases of cataract that are operated. Patients who have cloudiness that only affects their vision to a small extent usually do not require the operation. The ideal patients are those that have severe impairment of vision and a reduced quality of life as a result of the problem. If both eyes are affected, the surgeries are conducted within a few weeks of each other.
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To undergo cataract surgery Los Angeles patients should first consult with our board-certified eye specialist. Make an appointment now through this site http://marshburneyecenter.com.
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