Cataract surgery cost, post-surgery care and other important factors discussed here

When cataracts make it difficult for you to carry out your normal activities like reading and driving, your ophthalmologist may suggest cataract surgery. During the surgery, a cut is made in the front of the eye and the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens. The surgery itself takes 15 to 20 minutes. Cataract surgeries is one of the most common form of surgeries with a very high success rate. 

However, post-operative care may take more than an hour. There are several factors that affect cataract surgery cost. The cataract surgery cost depends on the following variables:

Cataract surgery cost, post-surgery care and other important factors discussed here

  • Type of surgery: There are multiple ways to remove cataracts and it is for your ophthalmologist and eye surgeon to decide which type of eye surgery would be the best solution for you. Phacoemulsification is the most common procedure used for cataract removal nowadays. A small surgical incision is created and the cloudy lens is broken into tiny fragments. Once the fragments are removed, an artificial lens is placed. When phacoemulsification is not possible, extracapsular cataract surgery is performed. Intracapsular cataract surgery is rarely done these days but it can be useful in some cases. These days, these surgeries are done with the help of lasers. The laser makes the procedure precise and reduces healing time.

 

  • Cataract surgery cost: The cataract surgery cost can vary from case to case. For many people, it’s an outpatient procedure with no need for hospitalisation. However, if the case is complicated one may require hospitalisation and further medical observation. 

 

  • Types of IOL (intraocular lens): Intraocular lenses or the artificial lenses are implanted inside the eye to replace the eye’s natural clouded lens which are removed during cataract surgery. There are a wide variety of IOLs to choose from. There are affordable IOLs as well as premium ones. The best artificial lens for you depends on many factors, including your lifestyle and your specific visual needs.

 

  • Pre- and post-operative visits: Though cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, you will have to take care of eyes after the surgery. Post-operative care may include medications and follow-up procedures or medical care due to cataract surgery complications. 

 

Post-surgery care: What to do and what not to  

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most commonly performed surgical procedures, and most people have excellent outcomes with no cataract surgery complications. Just like any other surgery, you need to take certain precautions. Here we discuss some of them: 

 

  • Wear your eye shield: After the surgery, make sure you cover the operated eye with the eye shield given for protection. This is especially important when you are sleeping so that you don’t end up rubbing your eyes unknowingly. Make sure to keep the eye shield clean. Wash your hands before handling the shield. 

 

  • Do not splash water into the eyes: When washing your face, make sure not to splash water into the operated eye. Use a soft cloth to wipe your face. 

 

  • Avoid washing your head: While you can bathe from the next day after the surgery, you should avoid head bath for a period of 3-4 weeks. This is to ensure that water doesn’t enter the operated eyes. 

 

  • Avoid using cosmetics: Avoid cosmetics like mascara and eyeliners for at least 4 weeks or till your eye doctor tells you. 

 

  • Physical activity: Though you can start walking immediately after surgery, strenuous activities should be avoided. Avoid lifting heavyweights. Avoid driving till the doctor gives permission.

 

Are you looking for affordable options for cataract surgery?  We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, deliver superior eye care services at an affordable cost. 

 

Cataract And Cataract Surgery Myths

When Mr Malay Chatterjee, a resident of Kolkata, was struggling to read the newspaper even with the glasses on, he realised that something was wrong. Also, he was finding driving at night difficult. So, he stopped driving altogether. When he told his son who stayed in Delhi about the problems, his son suggested he visit an eye doctor in Kolkata immediately. When the eye doctor checked Mr Chatterjee’s eyes, he told him that he has cataracts and would be needing cataract surgeries soon. Mr Chatterjee was sceptical about the surgery as he had heard that post-cataract surgery one needs to spend several days in the hospital and the recovery period is often long.

His eye doctor, however, clarified this and assured Mr Chatterjee that it was a myth. Normally, cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure which means he can go home on the same day of his surgery. Mr Chatterjee had many other doubts, which the eye doctor answered patiently.

cataract surgery - Dishaeye

Feeling reassured, he got the cataract surgery done and noticed his vision improving. He got his confidence back as he was able to do everyday things easily without glasses.

 

Like Mr Chaterjee, if you too are not getting cataract surgery done because of some myths and misconceptions about cataract surgery, we suggest you to go through this useful read on myths surrounding cataract and cataract surgery”

 

 

Myth 1: You don’t need cataract surgery. It will go away on its own!

 

Fact : If left untreated, cataract can even lead to blindness. Cataract surgery restores vision in the majority of people. People who have had cataract surgery experience better quality of life as they can do a lot of important daily activities such as reading, working and pursuing their hobbies without needing any help.

 

Myth 2: Cataract surgery is very expensive. It’s not a feasible solution for patients for middle-income households

 

Fact: Absolutely not. At Disha Eye Hospitals, we believe in affordable eye care. To know more about our cataract surgery cost in kolkata, get in touch with us.

 

Myth 3: Cataract affects only old people

 

Fact: Though cataract is usually related to ageing, it can also develop in younger people. Various factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol, exposure to UV rays can make younger people vulnerable to cataracts.

 

Myth 4: Cataract surgery is not safe

 

Fact: Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed. It’s usually performed in one eye and is done under local anesthesia. During the procedure, your eye surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.

 

Myth 5: Cataract has no symptoms at all

 

Fact: Cataract slowly creeps up on you with few symptoms. Some of the symptoms that people should be careful about are:

1.Blurred vision

2.Halo around lights

3.Light sensitivity

4.Reduced night vision

 

Any vision change like change in eye prescription needs to be taken seriously. If you notice eye-related problems, it’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam done to rule out eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

 

With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced eye surgeons ( we’ve done 1,000,000+ successful surgeries), we ensure that we deliver superior eye care services at an affordable cost.