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Everybody - no matter how old - is at risk to develop cataracts, and a cataract can basically be defined as a small growth on the lens of the eye that clouds the vision by obscuring the lens.

There are several different types of eye surgery that can be recommended to someone suffering from cataracts, and, exactly which surgery option will best match which patient depends on factors like the cataract’s size, cause and location. Another important factor is the age of the patient, and, generally speaking, the younger the cataract patient, the quicker the cataract should be removed as infantile cataracts can lead to severe sight loss and, perhaps, blindness.

Of the three most common types of cataract eye surgery, two are deemed fairly invasive while the third involves only a tiny incision. This third procedure - phacoemulsification - does not even require the patient to stay overnight in the hospital, and this treatment option works best on small cataracts. Briefly, phacoemulsification is an ultrasound procedure that makes use of an ultrasound probe that emits ultrasonic vibrations to dissolve - emulsify - the cataracted lens tissue. The probe is then used to remove the emulsified cataract debris from the eye, and the patient, after being given a small amount of medication to numb the affected area, is released from surgery. All in all, this procedure should take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete and is by far the least complex of the three.

The other two procedures - extracapsular and intracapsular cataract eye surgery - are more invasive than phacoemulsification and are used to rid a patient of medium-sized and severely advanced cataracts. Both procedures involve fairly large incisions into the eye, but, while extracapsular surgery comprises the removal of the cataracted lens, intracapsular surgery comprises the removal of not only the cataracted lens but also the ocular capsule that surrounds the lens. Intracapsular cataract eye surgery is, however, not as common as it once was and is fast giving way to the easier and more convenient ultrasound procedure.

Cataracts, if untreated, can lead to blindness, but, given the recent advances in cataract surgery, blindness can be prevented.

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15y ago

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It doesn't hurt. Laser surgery is painless, and if you are having an operation to remove cataracts, you are given local anaesthetic eye drops to numb your eye.


What surgery is recommended when both eyes are affected by cataracts?

If cataracts are present in both eyes, only one eye at a time should be operated on.


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No, glasses cannot correct cataracts. I have five on one eye and four on the other, my eye vision is becoming burred. My eye doctor says when I'm ready he will take them off.


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The best time to consider laser cataract surgery is when your cataracts start to significantly impact your vision and quality of life. Your eye doctor or surgeon can help determine the right time based on your individual needs and the progression of your cataracts.


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Many eye specialists offer treatment for cataracts. If surgery is necessary, the procedure is commonly performed with minimal complications and the patient can usually go home just a few hours afterward.


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Surgery on the eye is routinely performed to repair retinal defects, remove cataracts or cancer, or to repair eye muscles.


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