Cataracts are the most treatable form of blindness worldwide. Millions of cataract surgeries are performed each year, restoring patients to functional visual status.
Over the past 40-50 years, cataract surgery has advanced greatly from surgery performed with loops and multiple silk stitches with leaky incisions that required patients to lay in bed with sandbags for a week after surgery and then use aphakic spectacles, which limited side vision making driving unsafe. Now, most cataract surgeries can be done with micro-incision surgery using foldable lens implants with no shots, no stitches, and no patches after surgery. Frequently, patients have better vision without glasses after cataract surgery than they have had for many years prior.
Multiple lens implant choices are available as upgrades, including implants for correcting astigmatism and bifocal lens implants. These implants are not covered by Medicare or insurance companies.
We are fortunate to have laser-assisted cataract surgery available in our area. Laser procedures soften the cataract and make several of the incisions needed for surgery with a laser, making them more precise as well as making the surgery gentler on the eye with quicker vision recovery. Patients experience only 10-15 minutes of surgery time and a 2-3 hour outpatient surgery center visit.
Since the vast majority of cataract surgeries can be performed under topical and intraocular anesthesia with IV sedation and monitored anesthesia care, patients’ systemic medications, including blood thinners, rarely need to be stopped. With IV sedatives, the anesthesiologist can keep nearly all patients comfortable and steady for outpatient surgery under the microscope. Rarely, general anesthesia is needed.
With all the advanced choices now available for cataract surgery, discussion with the patient and family is important in determining the best course of action.
By Dr. Daniel Welch, Board Certified Cataract Surgeon
This column is sponsored by Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFDr or of its advertisers.
BIO: Dr. Welch is married and has two sons and five grandchildren. He enjoys tennis, golf, fishing, hunting and soccer. He attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church and is involved in the Winter Haven Youth Soccer Association.