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How to manage your eyesight when waiting for cataract surgery?

Following the pandemic, many things have taken a backseat and routine eye surgeries such as the ones for cataracts are no exception. This may mean to experience an extended period of delay in getting your cataract surgery. Though delay in cataract surgery doesn’t put your vision at permanent risk or doesn’t increase the risk of any surgery complications, it is important to take care of your eyesight while waiting for the surgery. As one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, we share with you some important information on managing cataracts while you wait for surgery:

How to manage your eyesight when waiting for cataract surgery

 

  • Remove or reduce tripping hazards: When the vision is deteriorating, simple tasks inside the home can be hazardous. It is, therefore, important that you look around your home and identify things that may pose a tripping and falling hazard. Make sure your house has anti-slip rugs not just in bathrooms and kitchens but also in the living room and other areas. Ensure that there are no uneven surfaces and there is adequate lighting in the entryway and staircase. Remind family members not to leave objects in the walkways.

 

    1. Seek help to read: The cloudiness and sensitivity to light caused by cataracts can make reading difficult. If you are struggling with reading, audiobooks and podcasts are good alternatives. There are many popular newspapers and magazines that are available in digital formats wherein you can increase the font.
    2. Watch accessible TV shows: For many people, TV is an entertaining pastime. However, cataracts may interfere with it and make it difficult to see finer details. Watching shows with audio description is a great way to enjoy television without missing what is happening on the screen.
    3. Avoid harsh lights: Light sensitivity is a common symptom of cataracts. The glare of bright lights can be painful in some cases. Use thick curtains or blinds to block bright sunlight. Avoid the use of fluorescent lighting at home. Use warm white LEDs to cut the glare.

 

  • Quit smoking: Smoking has a direct negative effect on eyes. The free radicals in smoke from cigarettes and other tobacco products weaken the protein and the vital cell membrane of the eyes’ lens. You should try to quit smoking. You must also refrain from smoking immediately after the surgery.
  • Seek help with household chores: A healthy lifestyle is really important for your overall good health. If you are struggling with household chores such as cooking and cleaning, seek help from a friend or hire a professional. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly play an important part too in eye health.
  • Discuss your medications with your eye doctor: Let your eye doctor know of any medications that you may be taking for other health conditions. . Also, if you are struggling to see your medication, seek help from a family member to organise your medication in such a way that you can take them safely. Otherwise speak to your pharmacist and use a medication organiser, https://neurofitnessfoundation.org/xanax-alprazolam/.

 

After cataract surgery, vision can be significantly improved. Our experienced doctors at Disha Eye Hospitals perform cataract removal surgeries using the latest techniques and technologies for favourable outcomes. To know more about cataract surgery, get in touch with us.

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After Cataract Surgery: A Post-Surgical Guide

Cataracts can develop as people age. In addition to aging, cataracts can occur due to various reasons such as diabetes, glaucoma, exposure to UV light, or an eye injury. Younger people can also suffer from cataracts for a number of reasons. In fact, some babies are born with cataracts. At first, one may not have any symptoms. However, gradually the sight becomes cloudy and misty. Some people even complain of glare in bright light and deteriorating night vision. To know more, check this useful read on cataracts and their symptoms. If the symptoms affect your day-to-day activities such as reading or driving, it is better to have the cloudy lens removed.

cataract surgery

Cataract Surgery in Kolkata – Facts Vs Myths 

Unfortunately, there is a myriad of myths surrounding cataract surgery. If you too are worried about the safety of cataract surgery, check this article debunking some of the common myths related to cataract and cataract surgery.  If you want to know more about the cataract surgery procedure and treatment, here is a useful resource . Types of surgeries that we do include: 

  • Phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation. Femtosecond Laser is used to performing a few steps of surgery in phacoemulsification.
  • Manual small incision cataract surgery.

What Happens After the Surgery? 

After your surgery, the hospital will give you an eye pad or shield to cover your eyes. You must ask someone to drive you home after the surgery. Also, you will have to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright light and glare. After the surgery, you may experience double vision, but your vision will gradually get better. 

Your eye doctor will give you post-operative eye drops – you will be given instructions on how and when to use them. Instructions you need to follow for at least 2 weeks after your operation include: 

  1. During the healing period, your eyes will be very sensitive. Hence, it is important to not rub or touch your eyes. 
  2. Wear your eye shield at nights during the recovery time. It is to ensure that you do not touch or rub your eyes in sleep. 
  3. Do not splash water directly into your eyes  until your eye has healed from surgery. Exposure to water can cause eye irritation or worse, it can put eyes at risk of infection. When taking a bath, avoid getting shampoo or soap in your eyes. Ask your doctor when it is safe to begin swimming or taking a head bath. In most cases, that will be a few weeks.
  4. Clean your eye shield every day. Dry them well before wearing them.  
  5. Avoid strenuous activities such as heavy lifting and gardening for a couple of weeks. Strenuous activities can increase your eye pressure which can affect the incision before it fully heals.
  6. If your eyes are sticky, clean the margins and eyelids with cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water. Before cleaning your eyes, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel. Gently wipe off the discharge. Do not rub your eyes while cleaning. 
  7. Your eye doctor will prescribe you antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. 
  8. Use your eye drops and take the medications as instructed by your doctor.
  9. Reduce the time spent on watching TV or digital screens. Do not put extra strain on your eyes during the healing period. 
  10. Do not resume driving without consulting your eye doctor. 
  11. To prevent infections, avoid meeting too many people.
  12. Follow your doctor’s instructions. 

Contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after the cataract surgery: 

  • Eye pain
  • Loss of vision 
  • Floaters
  • Flashes
  • Nausea
  • Excessive coughing

Hope you found this information useful. To know more about cataract surgery in Kolkata and other cities of West Bengal, contact us. 

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Cataract Surgery And Your Options

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgeries performed around the world. Approximately, 10 million cataract operations are performed each year in the world with a high success rate.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is the procedure of replacing the lens of your eyes with an artificial lens. A cataract is clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The surgery is carried out to remove the damaged lens and replace it with an artificial lens. It is usually performed under local anaesthesia  where the patient will be awake but will not feel any pain during the procedure. 

Cataract surgery and your options

Benefits of cataract surgery 

1. Improves vision

2. Helps in seeing things in focus

3. Improves the quality of life

4. Protected eye health

Here we have shared a few things you should consider while opting for cataract surgery:

 

  • Deciding on the time for surgery: Cataracts are removed when it makes it difficult for the person to carry out normal activities, such as driving or reading. An ophthalmologist is the best person to suggest the best time for surgery.
  • Pre-operative assessment: An eye doctor carries out a pre-operative assessment before the surgery.

1. The general health evaluation of the patient includes checking the patient’s blood pressure levels, current medication, allergies, and other medical conditions. 

2. The doctor will further check the visual acuity of the patient. The refractive errors, dioptric error, and intraocular pressure of the eye are also measured before the surgery. 

 

  • Choosing the type of intraocular lens: Another option you need to consider for your cataract surgery is the type of intraocular lens (IOL). The doctor will remove your natural lens and replace it with any of these types of IOLs:

 

 

1. Monifocal lens

2. Multifocal or accommodative lens

3. Toric lens

What is vision correction cataract surgery? 

While undergoing cataract surgery, the surgeon can also correct the vision, giving the patient better vision he or she had before the surgery. 

Looking for cataract surgery in Kolkata? 

If you or your family members are looking for cataract surgery in Kolkata,  you can consider Disha Eye Hospitals. As one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, we have some of the best and highly experienced doctors on board who will attend to all of your queries and guide you. The types of cataract surgery available in Disha Eye Hospitals are:

1. Phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation 

2. Manual small incision cataract surgery

3. Laser cataract surgery

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How quickly do cataracts progress? How many days rest is required after cataract surgery? And other FAQs on cataract surgery

Cataracts are caused when the proteins in the eye’s lens break down and clump together. Cataracts develop as a normal part of the aging process. In the early stages, cataracts don’t cause any visible symptoms. One may notice blurred vision and other visual disturbances as the eye condition progresses. In fact, one of the FAQs on cataracts is how quickly do cataracts progress? Over here let’s look at the answer: 

cataract surgery

Question 1 : How quickly do cataracts progress? 

During the early stages, cataracts may have very little effect on your eyesight. Although cataracts progress in stages, the development of the eye condition depends on various factors such as age, diabetes, prolonged exposure to UV rays, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. To understand how quickly the eye condition progresses, you need to gain an idea about the various stages of cataract.

  • Early cataract: In this stage, the lens refracts light irregularly – as part of the lens is cloudy and the other part is transparent.  The signs and symptoms may include: 
  • mildly blurred or cloudy vision
  • increased light sensitivity
  • double vision
  • halos around light 
  • poor night vision 
  • frequent changes to the prescription glasses or contact lenses
  • Immature cataract: In this stage, proteins start to cloud the eye lens, especially in the center. The progression from the early stage to this stage may take some time, however, lack of treatment can worsen the condition. 
  • Mature cataract: In this stage, the eye lens becomes deep amber or completely white. Cataracts start spreading to the edges and impact the vision severely. The symptoms are almost the same as in the early stage, however, they are more severe and affect day-to-day life.
  • Hypermature cataract: The last and advanced stage, where cataracts become very dense, impairing vision to a large extent. It can lead to increased pressure and inflammation in the eyes, resulting in glaucoma.

When a cataract interferes with your day-to-day activities, such as reading, cooking, and driving, then surgery might be necessary. Cataract surgery is one of the most preferred and safest procedures to remove cataracts. The next commonly asked question about cataract surgery to our eye specialists in Kolkata is how long does cataract surgery take for one eye? Over here let’s look at the answer: 

Question 2: How long does cataract surgery take for one eye? 

Cataract surgery is usually performed on one eye at a time. After the first surgery is done, the eye doctor waits for a few weeks to perform the second one. The time delay allows recovery of the first surgery and vision stabilization. The surgery usually takes 15-20 minutes, but post-operative treatment can take up to an hour or even more than that. The procedure is painless and is carried out under general anesthesia. 

Question 3: How many days rest is required after cataract surgery? 

Many people can resume normal activities 1 to 3 days after the surgery. Here are some useful insights regarding post-operative care and recovery:

  • Post-operative visits to the doctor:

Although cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure, you will have to take proper care of your eyes after the surgery. Post-operative care includes follow-up medical care or procedures, medications, and routine check-up to check for complications that may arise after the surgery. A routine check-up helps curb the risks or complications associated with cataract surgery.

  • Post-surgery care:

Like any other surgery, it is important to take certain precautions after the surgery. Wear an eye shield or patch as recommended by your eye doctor. Although you can resume your daily activities after the day of surgery, avoid strenuous physical activities or driving immediately after the surgery. Do not splash water into the operated eye and avoid a head bath. Also, avoid using cosmetics such as eyeliners, mascara, and kohl. Follow your eye doctor or eye specialist’s instructions along with proper medical care and routine check-up.

  • Days required for recovery: 

You can resume your daily routine within 24 hours of surgery. However, it can take a few days to get completely accustomed to the situation and achieve the desired vision. Patients, in some cases, can experience halos around light or a crescent-shaped shadow, which will cure with time.

  • Possible side effects:

Cataract surgery is safe and has a high rate of success with very low chances of side effects. However, just like any other surgery, patients may experience some possible side effects like infection, bleeding, pain, and swelling if proper care is not taken. In rare cases, they experience severe complications. Follow your eye surgeon’s directions closely to reduce the likelihood of complications after cataract surgery, and report any complications right away.

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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.