Cataract Surgery

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that replaces your eye’s natural lens with an artificial one. It’s an effective solution for cataracts, an age-related vision problem that causes your natural lens to become cloudy.

If you have cataracts, the lenses in your eyes can’t focus on light, making it difficult for your brain to process visual information. Replacing your natural lens with a clear one improves your vision and quality of life.

Who is a candidate for cataract surgery?

Consider cataract surgery if your cataracts affect your ability to drive, read, or do other routine tasks. You might also benefit from cataract surgery if you have another eye problem, such as age-related changes to your retina or diabetic retinopathy caused by poorly managed diabetes.

What happens during a cataract surgery consultation?

During a cataract surgery consultation, your Diablo Eye Associates provider completes an eye exam and measures your eye (or eyes) to determine the correct focusing power for your artificial lens. They also ask about the medications and supplements you take and prescribe eye drops to prevent infection.

You might need to stop taking certain medications several days before cataract surgery. Your provider may also ask you to fast on the morning of the procedure.

What does cataract surgery involve?

At Diablo Eye Associates, the providers perform cataract surgery in the onsite surgical theater.

You lie on an exam table, and your provider numbs your eye with an injection or drops. When the anesthesia sets in, your provider uses special tools to make a small incision in your eye. Then, they use ultrasound technology to break up the lens into tiny pieces.

Your Diablo Eye Associates provider removes your natural lens and replaces it with the artificial one. You don’t need stitches, as your eye heals on its own, but you will need to wear an eyepatch.

What is recovery like after cataract surgery?

After cataract surgery, a friend or family member drives you home. You can remove the eyepatch after the first 24 hours, but your provider might ask you to continue wearing it during sleep. 

Your provider also prescribes eye drops that you administer for several weeks. During that time, it’s normal to experience mild side effects, such as blurred or double vision and red or watery eyes.

Call Diablo Eye Associates to request a cataract surgery consultation or book online today.