Modern surgical procedures for treating cataracts

If a cataract is interfering with your everyday activities, it’s time to take action. Get your sight back, and return to your normal life, with these safe and effective surgical procedures.

• With newer surgical techniques it's no longer necessary to wait for a cataract to "ripen" (become totally opaque) before removal.  In almost all of those who have surgery, a synthetic UV-protective intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to provide clear sight again.
• In the small number of cases in which a lens can't be implanted, contact lenses or special cataract glasses with very powerful magnification are used.
• Failing to fix your cataract when you need to could eventually lead to blindness in the affected eye.

• Even if your doctor says you're developing cataracts in both eyes, only one eye is treated at a time. Surgery for cataracts is safe and reliable, and the success rate for all procedures is greater than 98 percent.
• No matter which you have, it will take an hour or less, and you'll be allowed to go home. Several kinds of surgery are recommended. With each, you follow a similar routine. You'll probably be given a sedative and a local anesthetic, but will be awake during the operation. Here's a list of the top-three cataract surgical procedures.

1. Phacoemulsification (phaco): This is the most common procedure for removing cataracts. To begin, the cataract is emulsified (or shattered) by ultrasound, then the same ultrasound probe is used to suction out the particles. The surgeon then inserts a 0.5-centimetre (1/4-inch) plastic or silicone intraocular lens through the original incision. Once the lens is positioned and the tube is removed, the tiny slit is either stitched closed or allowed to seal itself.
2. Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE): This surgery is an older and equally effective procedure that some doctors continue to use. Rather than shatter the cataract into tiny bits, the surgeon cuts an exit just wide enough to inject a small quantity of clear gel to keep the space from collapsing. A needle is then inserted into the incision and through the pupil to open the front portion of the lens capsule, and the cataract is then slipped out with tiny forceps. A lens implant is typically done at the same time, and the incision is closed up with several sutures.
3. Intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE): Performed in less than one percent of cases, it removes the entire lens and its supporting structure. In this procedure a special lens can be implanted, or you may be given eyeglasses or contact lenses instead. ICCE is usually recommended if someone is extremely nearsighted or has another eye disorder, such as glaucoma.

• Your doctor may prescribe some antibiotic eyedrops to help prevent infection, steroid drops for inflammation and an over-the-counter pain reliever for discomfort.
• If you experience excessive pain or inflammation, contact your doctor right away.
• Most doctors schedule a follow-up examination the day after surgery. It may then be a month before you need to see the doctor again

• Avoid touching or rubbing your eye.
• Apply eye drops to promote the healing process.
• Take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve discomfort. Avoid taking aspirin as it can promote bleeding.
• Don't drive for at least three days. Before you get behind the wheel again, make sure you're comfortable with your distance vision and are not distracted by sun glare or brightness.
• Wear dark glasses until you adjust to vision changes.
• Sleep on your back or turn the untreated side of your head toward the pillow in the weeks after the operation. This prevents pressure in the treated eye.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects or taking part in strenuous exercise. These activities can also increase pressure in the eye.