Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is the most effective and permanent solution to resolve cataract problems. As one of the professional and affordable eye surgery options offered by healthcare institutions such as Vega Health Agency, known as the best eye surgery hospital, cataract surgery can help you maintain your eye health, improve your quality of life, and achieve advantageous results in many ways. It may be useful to learn about your options, such as premium lens surgery options, within the scope of treating cataract issues and to find out more about this operation.

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is, of course, performed to eliminate the problem of cataracts. In this procedure, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. This lens is also referred to as an intraocular lens. This is why eye cataract surgery results in a very clear improvement in vision function. Medical interventions such as laser cataract surgery or standard operations are performed to improve individuals’ quality of life and cataract vision. Therefore, this surgical procedure can generally be performed on anyone without standard restrictions such as age limitations.

What Methods Are Used for Cataract Surgery?

The methods used for cataract surgery may vary depending on the situation. However, the most commonly used method is generally the phacoemulsification technique. The phacoemulsification technique is an innovative method also known as the phaco technique. Thanks to the phacoemulsification technique, one of the safe surgical techniques, it is possible to remove the natural lens through very small incisions. The main reason for this is that the phacoemulsification technique makes it easier to break up and remove the problematic lens using ultrasonic devices.

Following phacoemulsification, new artificial lenses are implanted during the procedure. These artificial lenses, made of medical materials very similar to the natural lenses commonly known as lenses, enable individuals to achieve clear vision. Because cataracts in the eyes pose a significant problem with vision, operations performed using safe methods at professional healthcare institutions such as Vega Health Agency eliminate the vision problems experienced by individuals and improve their quality of life.

Who is Eligible for Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is a procedure suitable for many different patient profiles. The majority of individuals who need treatment for eye cataract can benefit from surgical intervention. Since cataracts are a health problem that occurs mainly in old age and sometimes due to cataract causes that cannot be eliminated, there are not many restrictions on treatment. Many people, from elderly patients to individuals experiencing other vision problems in addition to cataracts, may be considered suitable candidates. However, as with many operations, this procedure is not performed on individuals during sensitive periods such as pregnancy and is planned appropriately to be performed after such periods have ended.

How is Cataract Surgery Performed?

Cataract surgery is performed by surgeons who are specialists in eye diseases. In the procedure, standard steps are followed regardless of factors such as the cataract causes. The operation is generally performed using local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. For local anesthesia, drugs that are generally dripped into the eye and provide a numbing effect are used. Artificial lenses are used in the surgical process. These artificial lenses are placed in place of the natural lens, which is naturally present and causes conditions such as blurred vision. To insert the artificial lenses, innovative techniques such as laser technology are generally used to remove the natural lens from the eye without causing damage or breaking it into pieces. Important details regarding the procedure can be explained in more detail under several question headings.

How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?

The duration of cataract surgery, i.e., how long the surgery performed for cataracts in the eye will take, may vary depending on the situation. However, in general, treatment operations are completed in a short time, around 35-45 minutes. This is the average duration of the procedure performed on a single eye. Although it is not recommended to operate on both eyes at the same time, in some cases, at the patient’s request and with the doctor’s approval, the operation may be performed on both eyes, resulting in the procedure lasting several hours.

Does Cataract Surgery Hurt?

Cataract surgery does not cause you to feel pain during the operation. Treatment, like many other eye treatments, is performed after applying eye drops that numb the eye. Therefore, the procedure is not painful. It is highly unlikely that you will feel any discomfort, including pain, in your eye area during the operation. However, your eye may become sensitive after the surgical intervention, and in this case, you may experience minimal pain.

What are the advantages of cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is a procedure that offers many advantages in various ways. Cataracts in the eyes can cause many different problems. As cataracts cause vision problems, an individual’s quality of life may decline. Especially in cases of advanced eye cataract, individuals may be unable to perform many activities, from driving to reading any text. After the cataract surgery recovery process is complete, individuals may become more successful in these activities because they have clear vision and are free from the problems caused by cataracts. For this reason, many individuals who benefit from this surgical procedure may see an improvement in their quality of life.

What Are the Risks and Possible Complications of Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is a low-risk procedure. However, as with any surgical intervention, there is a minimal risk and possibility of complications occurring during the operation. Possible complications include infection of the eye and damage to the lens area. In addition, the procedure, like any eye surgery, can lead to impaired vision in individuals, albeit at a low rate. However, this situation usually arises as a result of incorrect interventions. By choosing healthcare institutions that offer reliable and comprehensive healthcare services, such as Vega Health Agency, you can make this operation a low-risk and perhaps even complication-free procedure for you.

Preoperative Preparation Process for Cataract Surgery

Before performing surgery to eliminate cataract problems in the eyes, it is necessary to go through a preparation process. During this process, certain medical methods are used to definitively determine whether the individual has a cataract problem and to determine their suitability for surgery. What to do before the operation and what to expect during the preparation process can be explained under several headings.

Pre-Cataract Surgery Examination Process

An examination is required before cataract surgery. Before the operation, examinations are performed by an eye disease specialist to determine whether the individual has cataracts and to assess the degree of visual acuity. These examinations are reinforced with various test methods to reach definitive conclusions about the presence of cataract problems in the eyes, and then the stage of performing tests is reached to understand whether the individual can benefit from treatment.

Performing Cataract Surgery Tests

Tests help provide information on important issues such as the individual’s suitability for the procedure and the number of artificial lenses to be used. In addition, various tests may be performed for purposes such as measuring the individual’s eye pressure, just in case, and various measures may be taken to ensure that the operation is performed in a completely reliable manner. The tests performed before the procedure are generally quick and easy to perform and will not cause even the slightest discomfort.

Post-Cataract Surgery Recovery Process and Care

The cataract surgery recovery process is a very important and sensitive period. There are some important things that should and should not be done during this time. What should and should not be done during the recovery phase can be discussed in terms of the 3-month early recovery period and more general points to pay attention to.

The First 3 Months After Cataract Surgery

The first 3 months after cataract surgery is a sensitive period that can also be referred to as the early recovery phase. After the operation, the eye can become quite sensitive and susceptible to infection. To alleviate this sensitivity and protect the eye from complications such as infection, it is necessary to use certain medications, such as antibiotic eye drops. You must use these medications regularly, following the recommendations and approval of your eye care specialist.

What Should Be Considered After Cataract Surgery?

There are several things to consider after the surgical procedure. The general and long-term considerations after the operation can be summarized in a few points.

• Do not remove the bandages from your eyes for at least a few days without your doctor’s approval.
• Pay attention to the hygiene of your eye area.
• Do not look directly at the sun, and wear sunglasses that protect against the sun’s rays even when you are not looking directly at the sun.
• Keep in mind that if the lenses used for the procedure are not smart lenses, you may need glasses or contact lenses for some vision problems.

When Should I Contact My Doctor After Cataract Surgery?

If you encounter certain important situations after the operation, you should contact your doctor. It is quite natural to experience redness and discomfort in the eyes during cataract surgery recovery. However, if your vision is completely impaired and you experience unbearable pain or discomfort, you should contact your doctor. In such cases, it is very important and necessary not to delay contacting your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cataract surgery be performed with a laser?

Laser cataract surgery is possible. Laser support makes the vast majority of medical procedures less risky, more effective, and quicker to complete. This also applies to eye cataract surgery. Laser technology can also be used to assist in the surgical procedure. In operations performed with laser assistance, procedures such as removing the lens of the eye, which is naturally present in the eye and causes cataract problems, can be performed with a laser. However, it is important to remember that only certain stages are performed with a laser, not the entire procedure.

Is cataract surgery necessary?

Cataract surgery may become necessary in certain situations. Cataracts are a health problem that progresses if left untreated and can significantly reduce the quality of an individual’s cataract vision. Therefore, the surgical procedure may be necessary, especially for individuals who have started to experience significant blurred vision due to cataracts, who have great difficulty performing actions such as driving or reading books, and who want to regain clear vision. However, in some cases, if the individual’s cataract problem has not progressed and the eye disease specialist has left the decision up to the individual, it may be possible to choose not to undergo the operation.

Is cataract surgery always successful?

Cataract surgery is not always successful. This surgical intervention is one of the procedures with the highest success rate. The main reason for this is that the operation is not very complicated, it can be performed using innovative methods such as laser technology, and it can be improved with factors such as the correct lens selection. Therefore, surgeries performed reliably under the supervision of healthcare institutions such as Vega Health Agency have a high probability of success. However, as with any surgery, it is not possible to say that the procedure will always be successful.

Is cataract surgery performed on both eyes?

Cataract surgery can be performed on both eyes. However, many eye disease specialists do not recommend the procedure on both eyes. Although the operation is a minimal procedure with a very low risk of causing blindness, the risks of this surgery are not zero. For this reason, most eye disease specialists consider performing the operation on both eyes to be risky and do not recommend it. However, if both eyes of an individual have cataracts, they are greatly bothered by this problem, and they want to get rid of the cataract problem in both eyes in a short time, the procedure can be performed on both eyes if the doctor’s approval is obtained.

Does vision become blurry after cataract surgery?

Blurred vision during the recovery period after the operation is a common occurrence. Although the procedure is a minimally invasive and low-risk surgical intervention, it is still a significant medical procedure. Therefore, due to factors such as the placement of a new, artificial lens in the eye during the operation, there is a possibility of blurred vision afterward. Partial blurred vision is considered normal, especially during the early cataract surgery recovery period of a few days to a few weeks. However, if your vision is very blurry and this condition persists for a long time, you should consult your doctor.

What is the cost of cataract surgery?

The cataracts surgery cost may vary depending on the situation. This surgical procedure is a medical intervention priced based on its cost. Therefore, many factors determine the cataracts surgery cost and help determine the total price, such as the experience of the doctor performing the operation, the facilities of the healthcare institution where the surgery will be performed, the individual’s general health condition, and the quality or brand of the artificial lens to be used. Therefore, you need to consult your doctor and your preferred healthcare facility to get clear information about the price of your procedure.