Cataract is a condition where the lens inside your eyes becomes cloudy and results in blurred vision. It is one of the most common eye ailment that occurs in people as they grow older.
Cataract surgery is a fairly simple and uncomplicated procedure that can be completed in a matter of minutes. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis which doesn’t require you to stay overnight in the eye clinic.
The latest cataract treatments in Dubai involve the use of femtosecond lasers and eye drops to clear cataract. These procedures are very safe and painless and allow you to resume your daily routines immediately after the surgery.
Preparing for the surgery
Before the surgery, your ophthalmologist will perform a complete eye checkup to ascertain the overall health of your eyes. They use the data to evaluate the need for the surgery and the risk factors associated with it.
Normally a refraction test will also be performed to determine the amount of near or farsightedness you may have prior to the surgery. Further, measurements like the curvature of your cornea will be taken before performing the laser surgery.
Your eye specialist in charge of your cataract treatment will also discuss the medications you need to take, including non-prescription formulas and supplements. If you are already under medications, it’s best to discuss them with your ophthalmologist as some of them may cause complications in your surgery or interfere with the healing.
The procedure
The femtosecond laser procedure involves the following steps –
- Create corneal incisions to access the lens
- Remove the outer capsule of the lens
- Cataract fragmentation
- Place Intraocular lens
The actual procedure typically lasts a maximum of 15 minutes with an additional 90 minutes of preparation time. The procedure will successfully restore a vision anywhere between 20/20 or 20/40. You can easily return to your day to day activities after the procedure as the procedure ensures the best possible results in the shortest time span.
Recovery after Cataract surgery
As part of the healing, you must not strain your eyes too much. You must ask someone to drive you home right after the surgery and needs your doctor’s consent to restart safe driving. In the initial days after the surgery, you will have to use prescribed medicated eye drops, sometimes antibiotic ones to speed up the healing without infection. You will also have to wear a protective eye shield while sleeping for the first one week after the surgery.
Here are a few other dos and don’ts for the first week of recovery to speed up the healing process –
- Avoid lifting weight
- Avoid exercises which might strain your eyes
- Avoid swimming as water that enters your eyes can cause infection
- Take care while bathing; Close your eyes to avoid any water from getting in
- Refrain from any activities which call expose you to dust or dirt
Getting your cataract treatment from a clinic in Dubai will ensure you better vision and faster recovery. Consult your ophthalmologist today.
