Cataracts are a common eye condition that affects millions of individuals, especially as they age. Left untreated, cataracts can cause blurry, or cloudy vision, rendering it hard to perform everyday activities like driving, reading, and watching television. Luckily, refractive cataract surgery is an advanced surgical procedure that can restore vision in persons with cataracts.
Refractive cataract surgery effectively corrects various refractive errors, ranging from farsightedness and nearsightedness to astigmatism. Nonetheless, Pasadena refractive cataract surgery might not be appropriate for everybody. Here are the key signs that you may be the right candidate for refractive cataract surgery.
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1. Your Experience Serious Vision Impairment
Advanced cataracts cause blurry or cloudy vision that prescription glasses cannot correct. As such, you might experience difficulties performing basic tasks like recognizing faces, reading, or driving. In such cases, refractive cataract surgery could be a viable solution for you.
Refractive cataract surgery replaces the blurry or cloudy lens with a clear intraocular lens implant. Undergoing this procedure effectively restores your visual clarity, improving your life quality and allowing you to participate in previously challenging activities. You can also say goodbye to your prescription glasses, eliminating all the inconveniences associated with them.
2. You Are In Good Overall Health
Being in great general health is vital for refractive cataract surgery prospects. This procedure is invasive; thus, requires general anesthesia. As a result, being in great health reduces the risk of complications.
Patients with underlying health concerns like diabetes, cardiac illness, and hypertension may not be eligible. The same applies to patients with autoimmune illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect healing. Your ophthalmologist will examine your health history and conduct a physical exam to establish if you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure.
3. You Have Realistic Expectations
Refractive cataract surgery can improve your vision. However, this procedure might not effectively restore your vision to what it was before the cataracts formed. Patients should understand they might still need reading glasses or corrective lenses for specific tasks.
Prospects should have a comprehensive consultation beforehand to discuss their expectations and if the procedure is appropriate for them. Besides, patients should have realistic expectations about recovery. While vision fluctuations and discomfort are common immediately after surgery, these effects fade.
4. You Are Not Taking Any Medications That Can Affect Your Eyes
Before cataract surgery, disclose all medications you are on to your ophthalmologist. Some drugs, such as steroids, can raise your risk of developing cataracts. Other drugs, like blood thinners, raise your risk of bleeding during surgery, which could result in complications.
Furthermore, some medications can cause eye dryness, affecting your healing after surgery. Your ophthalmologist will examine your medications and establish if they can affect your candidacy for this surgery. In some cases, your specialist may advise discontinuing these drugs pre-and post-surgery.
5. You Are Ready To Follow Post-Operative Care Guidelines
Adhering to post-operative guidelines is important to ensure a successful outcome. These instructions also help avoid complications and ensure proper healing. The guidelines include avoiding specific activities, utilizing eye drops, and attending follow-up visits.
Not following these guidelines might raise your likelihood of inflammation, infection, and other complications. In case of any clarifications, patients should ask beforehand. Moreover, make necessary arrangements for your recovery period as directed by your eye doctor.
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Therefore, you should not hesitate to consult an eye specialist if you spot any warning signs of cataracts. Fortunately, with refractive cataract surgery, your eye doctor can effectively correct vision issues caused by cataracts.
If you are wondering if you are eligible for this surgery, discuss your unique concerns with your ophthalmologist. If your condition is not so severe, prescription eyeglasses might be enough. However, if your issue is severe, surgery might be the only solution.