Cataracts affect everyone at some point in their lives. Many people will also struggle with other eye conditions.
From things like dry eye syndrome to more serious issues like glaucoma and macular degeneration, this is why you need to see your eye doctor regularly.
About whether you can receive cataract surgery if you have another eye condition, it depends. It depends on the eye conditions that you have and how serious they are. Keep reading to learn more!
Having cataract surgery with another eye condition
If you have glaucoma, cataract surgery is totally fine, and can even reduce internal eye pressure. But if you have a serious case of chronic dry eye, cataract surgery could only make it worse.
The good thing is that cataracts usually grow slowly over time. For most people, that means they don’t need to have their cataract removed immediately. This gives you plenty of time to resolve issues like dry eye before the surgery.
If you think that you might need cataract surgery, you should schedule a cataract screening. If it’s not yet time for surgery, you can take the first steps towards recovering or managing your current conditions.
This will ensure that you’re ready for improved vision after cataract surgery!
How cataract surgery is done
There is more that goes into cataract surgery besides removing cataracts. This is because cataracts grow as part of the lens of the eye.
You cannot separate a cataract from the lens. Instead, the entire natural lens is removed and replaced with a synthetic lens called an IOL.
There are actually several kinds of IOLs, each with their own pros and cons. You will need to choose between the standard IOL and several kinds of premium IOLs.
Standard IOLs allow you to see at one distance, but you will need to use glasses to make up for what they cannot correct. Premium IOLs are a great option if you want to stop relying on glasses.
They allow you to see with near vision, distance vision, and everything between. They can also correct refractive errors that you have lived with your entire life.
This means even if you have worn glasses since you were a kid, you may not have to anymore! The different kinds of premium IOLs differ based on how they correct your vision.
To replace your lens with an IOL, the first step is to remove the natural lens. To do this involves breaking the cataract and lens down into smaller pieces.
This is usually done in a process called phacoemulsification. Phacoemulsification uses a sonic probe that emits high-frequency sound waves that break up the cataract.
After breaking down the lens and removing it, the chosen IOL is placed in the empty membrane and the cornea is closed. You will not need to have stitches since corneal tissue re-attaches quite quickly.
But you will need to be very careful with your eyes as they heal. Your surgeon will give you extensive instructions on how to have the best recovery after cataract surgery.
Tired of living with cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO!
Isn’t it time to live again, without cataracts holding your sight back?
