Most people undergo cataract surgery in both eyes on separate days, referred to as delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS). An alternative procedure involves operating on both eyes on the same day, but as two separate procedures, known as immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS).
If you have cataracts in both eyes, surgery typically is performed on one eye, and then a few days or a few weeks later, it's performed on the second eye. This approach allows the first eye to recover and your vision in that eye to stabilize before surgery is performed on the fellow eye.
If there is a cataract in each of your eyes, typically cataract surgery is performed on your non-dominant eye first followed by your dominant eye 1-2 weeks later. The time between the two cataract surgeries is in case infection or complications occur.
In most cases, you'll need to wait for 2 to 6 weeks for your eye to heal completely before proceeding with the second eye. This allows the eye doctor to ensure everything is healing properly without complications.
After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual. Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
More importantly, is the fact that your eyes are more likely to become infected while healing after surgery. Infections can spread from one eye to the other. Having both in a state of recovery at the same time increases that risk.
Is the operation painful? Cataract surgery is not at all painful. Most patients describe a mild sensation of pressure around the eye. In some cases, we may use local anaesthesia (administered via eye drops) or perform a small anaesthetic block around the eye.
Patients are more anxious prior to the first surgery and may have greater expectations of pain. This could result in a comparatively worse experience with their second eye after a relatively painless first surgery. The patients in this study received midazolam and fentanyl during their surgeries.
Sleep on your back or on the opposite side of the eye that was operated on to decrease your risk of infection and irritation after surgery. If you turn over in your sleep, your eye shield should help protect your eye from significant damage.
As you blink, the drops spread over your eye, numbing the surface. This allows you to feel no pain or discomfort during the surgery. When the eye is completely numb, an instrument will be used to hold your eye open while the procedure is completed.
The operation
Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.
Don't: Eat or Drink Right Before the Surgery
While under sedation, there is a chance of stomach acid going into your lungs, which can cause damage. You will need to fast for about 12 hours before surgery to ensure you are safe from this effect.
In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73.
And how do you detect any damage and then proceed with the remainder of the surgery? Delay surgery if the patient is sick, coughing, or sneezing. With an elective procedure like cataract surgery, there is no harm done by delaying the surgery by a week or two until the upper respirator infection has cleared.
Remove the eye shield in the morning and start your drops. Please wear sunglasses or your normal glasses during the day, to help protect your eye. Please wear the eye shield you have been given at night for the next 5 nights. You can secure it with medical tape or sellotape.
You may be awake or asleep during the surgery depending upon the amount of sedation given, but you will not be uncomfortable. There is no pain during cataract surgery. You will feel cool water flowing over your eye at times, and perhaps a painless touch around the eye or a very light pressure sensation, but no pain.
With the day of surgery excepted, no bed rest is required. Most patients can return to normal activities the following day. That being said, be sure to avoid the following until the eye doctor gives the okay.
You can take a shower or bath 24 hours after your surgery. Do not get water or soap in your eye. Keep your eye closed while you shower. Use a clean washcloth every time and normal tap water to clean secretions from your lashes or the corner of your eye.
In most cases, cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthetic, which means you'll be awake during the procedure. Your eye will be numbed using anaesthetic eye drops, so there are no needles or injections involved.
If I cry after the cataract surgery, will the lens inside my eye get displaced? No, that's not true. IOL/lens displacement can occur only due to a forceful injury or rubbing or punching to the eye. Crying will not displace the lens.
Although true pain after cataract surgery is rare, mild to moderate discomfort is common. This discomfort can generally be controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol®. However, prescription medications can be prescribed for patients who experience more intense discomfort or pain.
Bleeding during surgery is rare, but can occur if the retinal blood vessels begin to leak. Mild bleeding is not a cause for concern, but moderate to severe bleeding that leaks into the space between the cornea and iris, can cause vision loss.
Major versus Minor Surgery
In minor surgeries, there is no need for the surgeon to open the body cavity, neither breathing assistance nor general anesthesia are typically required, and recovery does not require hospitalization. In all these regards, cataract surgery meets the definition of minor surgery.
After cataract surgery, a person should focus on eating a nutritious diet that promotes healing. Foods to avoid include refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, and processed foods. People should also avoid tobacco and alcohol, which can slow healing and increase inflammation.