What happens during Cataract Surgery?
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Cataract surgery is the removal of the clouded lens with implantation of a new clear artificial lens to replace it. The entire Cataract surgery procedure should take about an hour. The patient is awake and usually a local anesthesia is all that is needed.
Before the procedure, the surgeon will use an ultrasound machine to measure the eye’s size and shape to determine the necessary power of the lens implant. A tiny incision is made in the eye and the clouded lens is removed. Depending on the severity of the Cataract, one of two common Cataract Surgery procedures is followed to accomplish this removal.
Phacoemulsification (aka Phaco)
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This is the preferred method of Cataract removal today. Phacoemulsification (Phaco) uses a very small incision, 1/8” or 3 mm. The rapidly vibrating tip of the needle size probe transmits ultrasound waves to gently break up the Cataract and then the fragments are vacuumed out. The lens capsule is left in place to support the new implant.
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (aka ECCE)
This method is necessary if the surgeon is unable to break up the Cataract due to advanced conditions. A larger incision is made ( 3/8” or 10mm) and the entire lens is removed in one piece. The lens capsule is left in place.
A new clear artificial lens is implanted in the now empty lens capsule. The Intraocular Lens or IOL is made of plastic, acrylic or silicone. Once implanted, the new IOL needs no care and becomes part of your body.
Some implants are rigid and require larger incisions with stitches – and a longer recovery as a result. New flexible implants, however, are smaller (¼” in diameter) and fold into place requiring no stitches. Most IOLs filter out UV light -known as blue-blocking lenses. Cataract Surgery now can now even correct vision near and far, although the intermediate range is not as sharp. More and more improvements are coming
Whoever you decide on to have your Cataract Surgery in Florida with, go in prepared with the right questions to ask.
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